The Wasp — December 25, 1879 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# The Illustrated Wasp - Christmas 1879 This page is primarily **editorial content rather than political satire**. The masthead illustration shows "The Illustrated Wasp" logo with decorative flourishes, but the bulk of the page contains a lengthy Christmas editorial titled "The Lesson of the Season." The article argues that **unselfishness should be Christmas's central lesson**, encouraging readers to look beyond material concerns and practice philanthropy toward "singing and suffering humanity." It critiques how selfishness pervades society and calls for the holiday to inspire moral reform and "human brotherhood." The text emphasizes that **Christmas should prompt reflection on character and social responsibility** rather than mere celebration. This appears to be **moral advocacy journalism** rather than satirical cartooning—the Wasp using its platform for earnest social commentary on the true meaning of Christmas.