The Wasp — 1895 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts three working-class men—labeled "First Touch Citizen," "Belated Pedestrian," and "Second Touch Citizen"—apparently engaged in pickpocketing or theft. The caption's dialogue about lending a watch and missing "the last boat" suggests a scam or con game targeting travelers. The satire criticizes urban crime and street fraud targeting unsuspecting victims. The figures' rough appearance and the casual nature of their crime suggest The Wasp is mocking both the prevalence of petty theft in San Francisco and the vulnerability of its citizens and visitors. The "new way" likely refers to modern urban criminality as a established social practice rather than an aberration—a cynical commentary on public safety and street crime in the 1890s Pacific Coast.