The Wasp — 1879 — page 658: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains miscellaneous satirical commentary rather than a single cartoon. The central illustration depicts a goat or similar animal standing upright, captioned with definitions including "Out-rage—pacific" and "Foreclose—aprons," suggesting wordplay mocking specific targets. The surrounding text offers biting social commentary on Victorian-era customs: "Advice to Gentlemen" mocks domestic etiquette; "Advice to Ladies" ridicules courtship rituals and feminine behavior; and scattered "Court Notes" and brief quips target contemporary public figures and social absurdities. Without identifying specific individuals referenced, the overall tone satirizes upper-class hypocrisy, gender relations, and fashionable society's pretensions. The format—mixing illustrated humor with pithy commentary—was typical of American satirical magazines of this period.