The Wasp — 1877 — page 264: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The page contains a detailed illustration of a wasp at the top, followed by miscellaneous satirical notes and a substantial article titled "SUBJECTS FOR SCIENTIFIC STUDY." The cartoon itself is minimal—just the naturalistic wasp drawing. The accompanying text consists of brief political jabs at local San Francisco figures: Governor Irwin, Judge Lauderback (candidate for Police Judge), Judge Darwin, and various Democratic officials. These are sharp one-liners mocking their competence and character. The major feature is a lengthy article describing Mr. R.B. Woodward's aquarium on Mission Street, detailing its sixteen free-stone tanks with glass fronts containing fish, crabs, lobsters, and anemones. The piece praises this scientific attraction as superior to European establishments, positioning it as a cultural achievement for San Francisco.