The Wasp — March 6, 1880 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of "Phases of History" Page This page continues a serialized satirical narrative titled "Phases of History" by Salmi Mobre, focusing on Mr. Josiah Martin's exploits. The illustrations depict Martin in various comedic situations—including what appears to be a wasp attacking him and Martin discovering money. The text narrates Martin's escalating misadventures involving a Polish Count character. The satire centers on Martin's gullibility and the Count's manipulation of him through flattery and schemes. The humor derives from Martin's desperate financial circumstances and his increasingly ridiculous attempts to recover lost money or secure new wealth. The narrative appears to be social satire mocking working-class desperation and the con-artist schemes that exploit it. The specific references to clothing, currency ("fifty dollars"), and lodging ground the story in recognizable urban American life, likely late 19th century.