The Wasp — 1895 — page 814: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon contrasts public and private political behavior. In the main scene ("Public View"), two well-dressed men physically restrain a third figure labeled "Rainey," who appears agitated amid scattered papers labeled "Denunciation" and "Part of Election." The restraint suggests these men are controlling or suppressing Rainey's public outbursts. The inset ("A Private View") shows the same figures cheerfully toasting together, implying they're actually allies in private despite their public conflict. The cartoon satirizes local San Francisco politics, suggesting hypocrisy—politicians who appear as bitter rivals for public consumption while maintaining friendly relationships behind closed doors. The scattered documents and "Election" reference indicate this involves electoral disputes.