The Wasp — 1896 — page 189: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes the theft of a woman's purse on Kearny Street by showing the ironic contrast between the incident and an official explanation. Two women with bicycles discuss the crime: Gwendolin reports her purse was snatched, while Gladys asks if she screamed for police. Gwendolin responds that all officers were attending a council meeting at Dr. Brown's church—they were unavailable to prevent crime. The satire targets San Francisco's police department for prioritizing administrative meetings over public safety and crime prevention. The title "The Preservation of Peace" mockingly underscores this negligence. The casual tone of the dialogue emphasizes how absurd this excuse is. The page is primarily filled with period advertisements for bicycles, champagne, hotels, and ammunition.