The Wasp — 1879 — page 369: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The illustration shows a wasp (the magazine's mascot) carrying a large coin purse labeled "THE WASP'S," depicted in the satirical style typical of 19th-century American humor publications. The page consists primarily of text anecdotes and jokes rather than political cartoons. These brief humorous stories mock various subjects: a Wyoming wrestler named Hammer, British colonial attitudes in South Africa, New York spiritualism, a girl memorizing scripture, circus monkeys, Julius Caesar references, and domestic life scenarios. The humor is gentle, anecdotal satire typical of *The Wasp*'s approach—poking fun at American social types, pretensions, and everyday absurdities rather than targeting specific political figures or events. The overall tone is lighthearted commentary on contemporary American society and human nature.