The Wasp — 1881 — page 113: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains two main elements: a lengthy article titled "A Post-Prandial Effort" by Olive Hogan describing a wedding reception speech, and illustrated vignettes depicting scenes from the event. The article humorously recounts an after-dinner speech at a wedding where the speaker struggles through an awkward toast. The illustrations show exaggerated, caricatured wedding guests reacting with various expressions of amusement and discomfort to the proceedings. The satire targets pretentious social occasions and the difficulty of making coherent after-dinner speeches—a common theme in satirical magazines. The crude, expressive drawings emphasize the absurdity and social awkwardness of the moment, mocking both the speaker's fumbling attempt and the guests' theatrical reactions.