The Wasp — 1878 — page 330: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon from *The Wasp* (May 25, 1878) satirizes a civic debate about San Francisco police uniforms. The illustration shows two police officers in different dress styles, captioned "The Police Uniform Question: How to Suit Both Parties." The joke appears to address a contemporary dispute—likely between police leadership and city officials or the public—about whether officers should wear formal uniforms. One figure wears a long coat with military-style buttons and stars; the other holds a traditional lantern and staff, suggesting older patrol-style dress. The satire implies that no single uniform design could satisfy all factions involved in this municipal controversy. The specific parties and their positions remain unclear without additional historical context about San Francisco's 1878 police governance debates.