The Wasp — March 12, 1880 — page 14: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is **primarily advertisements** with one central illustration. The main cartoon depicts a goat standing upright with exaggerated features, labeled "Sewing—a hog's wing" at top. Below it are various word definitions presented as satirical jokes—seemingly wordplay exercises mocking pretentious or absurd terminology of the era. Examples include "Inmates—hotel chums," "Locuste—appear eaten," and "Failure—fairy enticement." The humor appears to target verbose or misleading language in contemporary society. The page also contains numerous business advertisements for San Francisco merchants (pianos, laundry, optical services, cigarettes), reflecting The Wasp's role as a commercial publication. The central cartoon's exact satirical target remains **unclear without additional context**, though the wordplay suggests mockery of linguistic affectation.