The Wasp — 1878 — page 216: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is the cover of *The Wasp*, a San Francisco satirical magazine dated April 6, 1878. The main illustration depicts Lady Liberty (identifiable by her classical dress and feathered headdress) in a boat labeled "SENATE," paddling past dangerous rocks labeled "LOBBY," "ASSEMBLY," and what appears to be "JUDICIARY." The cartoon satirizes recent political dangers that California—or the nation—has apparently survived. The female allegorical figure represents the state or republic navigating treacherous legislative obstacles. The labeled rocks suggest corruption or obstruction from lobbying interests and various governmental branches. The title "The Danger Is Past" suggests the cartoonist believed a specific crisis—likely legislative or political—had been successfully overcome. Without additional context about April 1878 California politics, the precise event referenced remains unclear, though it likely concerned state legislative threats.