The Wasp — 1878 — page 76: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains satirical commentary and humor pieces rather than political cartoons. The small illustration at top left shows a wasp attacking insects—likely *The Wasp* magazine's mascot imagery. The text consists of brief satirical quips mocking various social conventions: absurd cooking advice ("iced tea should not be boiled in hot water"), observations about human behavior and gender relations, and jabs at newspaper editors and journal practices. One section ridicules the *Norristown Herald* for printing a recipe for "puffs," then publishing reader complaints when the instructions proved unclear—mocking editorial carelessness. The "Literary Review" section critiques a biography as superficial sentimentality rather than serious literature. Overall, this is *Wasp*'s signature style: sharp-tongued social satire targeting 19th-century American customs and institutions through witty, irreverent commentary.