The Wasp — 1877 — page 291: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains satirical humor columns rather than political cartoons. The single illustration shows "The Very Proudest American Humorist"—a figure in patriotic dress riding what appears to be a money wheel or commercial venture, satirizing American humorists who prioritize commercial success. The text columns mock various social targets: boarding house butter, pet naming conventions, libel suits, burglar alarms, and women tipping. Several pieces lampoon American pretensions and materialism—particularly commentary on lottery managers, con artists, and those exploiting public gullibility. The "Drowning Her Sorrow" piece depicts a woman attempting suicide after morphine addiction, reflecting period concerns about drug abuse. Overall, the page targets American social hypocrisy, commercialism, and vice through brief satirical observations rather than sustained political commentary.