The Wasp — 1877 — page 340: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page features a satirical advice column where the magazine's editors respond to reader letters with witty, often dismissive replies. The header illustration shows a figure at a desk marked "Answers to Correspondence." Key exchanges include: - **Oscar** complains about an acquaintance; editors suggest he's mistaken - **F.L.** questions the definition of "D.D." (likely an academic degree); editors refuse to engage seriously - **G.C.S.** from Honolulu asks about publishing sketches; editors respond dismissively - **Mezzotinto** criticizes the Wasp's December issue; editors defend their work - **Ernestine** recounts a story about "Robin Hood" and social climbing The humor relies on the editors' condescending, evasive responses to earnest or trivial complaints—typical of period satirical magazines mocking both their readers and broader social pretensions.