The Wasp — 1879 — page 761: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The main illustration shows a woman writing at a desk—likely "Nanny," who authors the letter below it titled "My Dear Grandma." The letter is a satirical commentary on contemporary social issues: urban overcrowding and poor conditions ("why the city is going to be numbered, and flag-stringered"), labor strikes (brickmakers demanding higher wages), and religious hypocrisy regarding the poor. The satire targets inconsistencies in treating the disadvantaged—criticizing those who lecture about religion while ignoring workers' actual suffering. The letter's gossipy tone mocks both the correspondent and society's indifference to structural problems. The remainder is advertisements for venues (Vienna Concert Gardens) and businesses (California Gloves), typical of *The Wasp*'s mixed content format.