The Wasp — 1879 — page 740: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains two distinct sections: a literary piece titled "The Faded Attractiveness of Past Celebrities" and a dialogue-based humor section. The main illustration shows two well-dressed men in top hats and formal attire having a conversation, appearing to represent gentlemen of social standing. The text discusses various historical female figures (Jenny Lind, Mademoiselle Georges, others) whose beauty and fame have diminished with age—satirizing how society discards women once they lose youth and attractiveness. This reflects Victorian attitudes about women's value being primarily tied to their appearance. The dialogue sections below ("Phases of Bilkers'-Day-of-Rest Law" and "Edison over Again") contain humorous exchanges about mundane social situations involving bakers, grocers, and landlords—typical working-class comedy of the era. The page appears primarily literary rather than heavily illustrated, focused on satirizing social hypocrisy and class relations.