The Wasp — 1878 — page 26: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page presents a satirical feature describing various "babies" — apparently personified local figures or types in San Francisco society. The text catalogs individuals with nicknames like "Grave Baby," "Nob Hill Baby," "Railroad Baby," "Snake Baby," and "Stoek Baby," describing their peculiar characteristics and behaviors. The satire appears to target recognizable San Francisco personalities, mocking their eccentricities through diminutive, infantilizing descriptions. References to specific locations ("Nob Hill") and behaviors suggest these are local celebrities or social figures known to contemporary readers. The "baby show" framing is inherently mocking — presenting grown adults as if they were babies in a competitive exhibition, emphasizing their immaturity or foolishness. Without identifying the specific individuals referenced, the overall point is clear: satirizing San Francisco's notable characters through humorous, derisive portraiture.