The Wasp — 1881 — page 232: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains a satirical article about Emily Soldene, an English opera singer performing at the Standard Theatre. The piece mocks her for singing loudly with an open mouth, comparing her voice to "dreamy golden tones" from a "distant cave" and describing her mouth as a "monument" to her "patronage." The satire targets her operatic style and apparent lack of vocal refinement. The article includes anecdotes about her romantic life and financial struggles, presenting her as somewhat vain and desperate. The accompanying poetry mocks religious hypocrisy and moral failings in general terms. The humor relies on period-specific knowledge of Soldene's reputation and contemporary theatrical performance styles that modern readers would find obscure.