The Wasp — 1879 — page 97: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The main illustration shows a large wasp carrying what appears to be a woman or figure, labeled "The Very Freshest American Humor." This appears to be the magazine's masthead or defining image. The rest of the page consists of humorous anecdotes and observations rather than political cartoons—brief jokes about billiards, grief, boredom, and social customs. There's a substantial section titled "Natural History of the Dog" presenting comedic observations about dog behavior and human attitudes toward pets. The content is primarily satirical social commentary on American life, manners, and everyday absurdities rather than partisan political critique. It reflects late 19th-century middle-class preoccupations with propriety, domesticity, and urban living.