The Wasp — 1896 — page 358: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page's main cartoon satirizes the new X-ray photography technology as a political tool. The accompanying text suggests using X-rays to expose politicians' hidden character flaws—metaphorically revealing corruption "inside" them as clearly as X-rays show internal anatomy. The text references **George A. Knight**, described as a prominent California Republican politician known for his "warm partisan" character. The satire implies that even close examination of such figures wouldn't reveal dishonesty, suggesting either that politicians are genuinely corrupt throughout, or ironically praising Knight's consistent partisanship. The humor depends on readers understanding both the novelty of X-ray technology (relatively new in this era) and contemporary California Republican politics, though specific figures beyond Knight aren't clearly identifiable from this excerpt.