The Wasp — December 6, 1879 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page contains serialized fiction ("Phases of History," Part IX, continued from a previous issue) rather than political cartoons. The text depicts a Victorian-era domestic drama involving characters named James, Mrs. Josiah Martin, Mr. Briggs, and others in what appears to be a working-class household dispute. The narrative concerns quarrels over household management, money, and propriety—including discussions of coffee, boarding arrangements, and whether someone should call the police. It's a melodramatic story exploring class tensions and domestic conflict typical of 19th-century serialized literature. **No political satire or cartoon content is visible on this page.** It represents The Wasp's fiction offerings rather than its satirical cartoons.