The Wasp — 1879 — page 159: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page from *The Wasp* features a cartoon of a bee wearing a striped outfit labeled "American Humor." The bee appears to be the magazine's mascot or symbol. The page is primarily composed of miscellaneous jokes and humorous anecdotes organized in short paragraphs, rather than political cartoons. These brief, often one-liner jokes touch on various social topics: marriage, dancing, theater, religion, and daily absurdities. They reference contemporary figures like O. W. Holmes and publications like the *Boston Transcript*. The humor relies on wordplay, irony, and observations about American life. Without specific historical context for each reference, most jokes remain general enough to address universal human foibles—marital discord, pretension, and social awkwardness—rather than specific political events or figures.