The Wasp — 1877 — page 156: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

**The Cartoon:** The top illustration shows a wasp in detailed naturalistic style—a straightforward entomological drawing rather than political satire. **The Content:** This page is primarily text-based social commentary and humor. Notable items include: - A joke about "The Snakes" and the Nez Percés, likely referencing Native American relations - Complaints about water quality ("How does it taste etc.") - A story about police court proceedings involving animal cruelty - A piece titled "He Wanted to Jine" (dialect for "join")—a comedic dialogue about someone wanting to join "the ban'" with folk-style wordplay - "The Boys' Story" criticizing exploitative labor practices against child hop-pickers, with detailed accusations of wage theft and unsafe conditions **The Satire:** The magazine uses humor and dialect comedy to expose social injustices, particularly concerning labor exploitation and government accountability.