The Wasp — 1878 — page 312: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical cartoon from *The Wasp* (May 18, 1876) titled "Something Very Strange, A Policeman in Hayes Valley!!" The cartoon depicts a tall, well-dressed policeman surrounded by working-class people—children, women, and men—who appear to be confronting or gawking at him. The caption suggests the satire: a policeman's presence in Hayes Valley is presented as so unusual it's "very strange." The joke likely mocks either: 1. **Inadequate policing** in Hayes Valley (a San Francisco neighborhood), suggesting police rarely patrolled the area 2. **Class tensions**, with the well-dressed officer looking out of place among the poor residents The exaggerated caricatures and the officer's formal attire contrasted with the shabby appearance of surrounding figures emphasizes the social divide. Without additional historical context about Hayes Valley's 1876 conditions, the exact target of satire remains somewhat unclear, though it appears to criticize either police negligence or social inequality.