The Wasp — 1878 — page 299: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This appears to be a serialized short story rather than a political cartoon. The narrative follows a character named Clover, described as a "busy, punctual little creature" working as a railway clerk in Sydney. The story satirizes Victorian-era workplace dynamics and social pretension through her experiences. The text mocks pompous businessmen, snobbish social climbing, and workplace hierarchies of the period. References to Dalford, Bretham, and railway employment suggest Australian colonial settings. The humor derives from contrasting Clover's practical competence against the affectations of her social "betters" who underestimate her intelligence. This represents *The Wasp's* literary rather than visual satirical content—using character-driven narrative to critique period social conventions.