The Wasp — 1879 — page 234: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily a **advice column** rather than a political cartoon. The masthead shows "ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS," a common feature in satirical magazines where editors responded to reader letters with witty, sarcastic commentary. The responses mock various correspondents on topics ranging from social etiquette (napkin rings, windows in homes) to contemporary figures like Christopher Columbus and Frank Pixley of Massachusetts. The humor derives from the editors' deliberately obtuse or contrarian responses to sincere questions. One notable response addresses whether "Spring" is an appropriate name for a child—the editors mock it sarcastically. The overall tone is cynical, dismissive humor typical of *The Wasp*'s satirical approach to American society and its readers' concerns.