The Wasp — 1896 — page 924: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a cover of *The Wasp*, a satirical magazine focused on Pacific Coast politics. The main illustration depicts two figures at what appears to be a tennis match, with a caption about "matrimonial standpoint tennis" proving "one of the most unprofitable amusements ever introduced among the California Four Hundred" (referring to society's elite). The cartoon likely satirizes wealthy Californians and their social scandals, though the specific identities of "Sharkey and Fitzsimmons" (referenced in the bottom caption) remain unclear without additional context. The sidebar advertises coverage of local politicians' "secret designs" regarding state and federal offices. The overall tone suggests *The Wasp* mixed gossip about high society with political criticism.