The Wasp — 1879 — page 65: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The page's main illustration shows a wasp attacking what appears to be a human figure. The caption reads "The Very Freshest American Humor," which is ironic—the image depicts violence rather than actual humor. The rest of the page contains miscellaneous short satirical items and jokes typical of *The Wasp*'s format: brief quips mocking various social types (restaurateurs, darkey dialects, etc.), marriage advice, and general social commentary. Notable sections include "A Crazy Telephone" (satirizing telephone miscommunication) and "When Prayers Avail" (mocking religious hypocrisy about prayer's effectiveness). The overall tone is cynical, reflecting the magazine's satirical mission, though the specific targets are often dated social stereotypes rather than major political figures.