The Wasp — 1895 — page 297: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily **advertising and business directory**, not political satire. The upper portion contains two cartoon vignettes: 1. **"A Straight Tip"** shows a man advising a woman about betting on horse racing, with dialogue about playing "the meeting" and becoming a "hustler for a living." 2. **"A Soft Thing"** depicts two men in conversation about work, with one suggesting the other maintain a "soft thing" by keeping their head "about you." Both cartoons appear to be **gentle social humor** about daily life rather than political commentary—depicting common schemes, workplace dynamics, and relationship advice in late 19th-century San Francisco. The remainder consists of San Francisco business advertisements for banks, insurance companies, breweries, and patent medicines.