The Wasp — 1895 — page 608: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is primarily a **cover/advertisement page** for *The Wasp* magazine (San Francisco, August 10th, price 10¢). The central image shows a classical female warrior (labeled "Eureka"—California's state motto) riding a bicycle while wielding a spear. The figure appears to reference California's state seal, reimagined for the modern bicycle craze. The satirical point concerns **California's progress and modernity**: the classical "Eureka" symbol is updated to the contemporary rage for bicycling, suggesting California embodies forward-thinking innovation. The decorative border of cyclists reinforces this theme of cycling as a defining cultural phenomenon. At the bottom, advertisements for bicycle accessories ("STAR bicycle lamp and lubricating OIL" and "bicycle ENAMEL") anchor the commercial purpose of this cover.