The Wasp — 1878 — page 442: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts four figures in a procession, carrying musical instruments and banners labeled with what appear to be political or social messages (text is too small to read clearly). The title references a popular 19th-century hymn, "In the Sweet Bye and Bye," suggesting ironic commentary on promised future improvements or utopian hopes. The figures' caricatured appearances and the chaotic arrangement of instruments suggest mockery of some political movement or group's grandiose promises. Without clearer text visibility, the specific targets remain uncertain, though the cartoon likely critiques California political figures or movements of 1878 making unrealistic or hypocritical promises to constituents.