The Wasp — 1878 — page 82: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The page contains two political cartoons and miscellaneous news items rather than a unified narrative. **Left cartoon**: Depicts a thin, disheveled man labeled "Pierson's Libel Bill" being confronted by a stern official figure. The accompanying text explains this satirizes a legislative measure burdening defendants in libel cases—positioning it as hostile to press freedom. The cartoon mocks the bill as a "muzzler of the Press." **Right cartoon**: Shows a Chinese man being executed, labeled "A Chinaman named Lew Wong." The text notes his execution at San Rafael, treating this as notable news. The page's satire targets government overreach (the libel bill) and documents contemporary violence. The cartoons reflect 1870s California political conflicts and racial attitudes of the era.