The Wasp — 1896 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The main cartoon depicts a "Polite Burglar" interrupting two people in bed, saying "Don't let me interrupt yer séance, friends. It ain't spoons I'm after." This is satirizing spiritualism—the popular 19th-century practice of séances. The joke suggests that while the couple claims to contact spirits, an actual criminal is robbing them, implying spiritualism is a frivolous distraction from real dangers. Below is a biographical section on **Lucius H. Foote**, apparently a politician or public figure. The accompanying text discusses controversies involving Willis Polk and the School Board, mentioning financial disputes and newspaper criticism. The piece criticizes both daily papers and Foote's conduct, suggesting internal political scandal. Without fuller context of The Wasp's publication date and local politics, specific identities remain unclear.