The Wasp — 1896 — page 217: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The main illustration, captioned "SUPERFLUOUS," depicts two figures in conversation about a wheel to be added to the Mayor's collection of curiosities. The dialogue suggests the Mayor already possesses an unusual item in his head, and adding a wheel would make him "complete"—implying the Mayor is mentally deficient or lacking in sense. The "Round and About" text discusses various San Francisco personalities and social issues, including references to Joaquin Miller, Fish Commissioner Emeric's cheese, and local scandals involving gunshot wounds and colored men's skulls. The page is primarily satirical commentary on San Francisco's civic leadership and social figures, using mockery and crude caricature typical of late-19th-century American satirical journalism. The specific identities of most figures remain unclear without additional historical context.