The Wasp — 1878 — page 298: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily text—editorials and reader letters—rather than illustrated cartoons. The content addresses California politics and anti-Communist sentiment circa 1870s-80s. The main editorial ("No Commune for Us") warns against communism infiltrating California, citing a newspaper reporter named Megy who allegedly promoted communist ideas. The piece argues communism threatens American institutions and property rights, using the failed Paris Commune as a cautionary example. The letters section features a "New Commentator" discussing theological disputes and local political figures through satirical pseudonyms ("Big Brother," "Young Feller," "Scripter Fokes"). The satire targets perceived hypocrisy and radicalism in California society, though specific identities remain unclear without additional historical context.