The Wasp — 1877 — page 307: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains **text only—no cartoon or illustration** beyond the decorative initial letter at the start of the story. The content is a serialized short story titled "Carnelian: A Romance of a Sleeping-Car" by E. H. House, reprinted from the *Overland Monthly* (June-July 1874). The narrative depicts conversations between passengers on a train, focusing on interpersonal drama involving characters named Emily, Charlotte, Anna Eustace, and Mr. Farrell. The story appears to be a melodramatic Victorian-era romance featuring social gossip, romantic misunderstandings, and tension—typical serialized fiction of the period. Without accompanying illustrations or satirical commentary on the visible page, there is no political or social satire to decode. This represents *The Wasp's* literary content rather than its satirical cartooning function.