The Wasp — 1879 — page 702: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page from *The Wasp* contains a lengthy poem titled "The Song of a Flirt" about summer social life in San Francisco, satirizing women's fashion, behavior, and romantic pursuits during the season. The poem mocks flirtation, materialism, and the superficiality of upper-class courtship through repeated refrains like "Walk! walk! walk!" and "Trudge—trudge—trudge!" Below appear two small illustrations captioned "Deliberate Death" and "Deliver or Death"—likely depicting violent or dramatic consequences, though their specific reference remains unclear without additional context. The overall satire targets the frivolous social scene, women's preoccupation with appearance and romantic conquest, and critiques what the publication views as morally questionable behavior among San Francisco's leisure class.