The Wasp — 1878 — page 300: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page consists primarily of a "Answers to Correspondents" advice column with illustrated header. The small cartoon shows a woman at a desk responding to reader letters—a common magazine feature of the era. The content addresses various social questions: whether to accept gold coins as currency, criticism of "crank pins" as fashion, complaints about oatmeal for breakfast, and discussion of Shakespeare's dramatic works. One notable exchange ridicules someone aspiring to be a "son of toil" through manual labor, with the response mocking his pretensions. The tone is satirical and class-conscious, typical of satirical magazines. The column mocks affected gentility, financial ignorance, and social pretension among readers seeking advice. Without visible dates or bylines, specific political figures cannot be identified from this page alone.