The Wasp — 1881 — page 20: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical composite shows various figures drinking different beverages as "New Year's drinks." The central female figure (likely representing a fashionable woman or possibly a political figure of the era) is labeled "MILK," while surrounding vignettes show different characters with various drinks. The labels visible include "SODA WATER" and "MEDICINE," suggesting commentary on social types and their supposed habits or characteristics. The ornate frame styling and caricature approach was typical of 19th-century American satirical magazines. Without clearer identification of the specific figures, the precise political targets remain unclear, but the overall intent appears to be mocking different social classes or types through their beverage choices—a common satirical device of the period.