The Wasp — 1888 — page 280: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical cartoon from *The Wasp*, a 19th-century San Francisco publication. The image shows five caricatured men outside a "Ice House," with one figure (appearing to be a military or political authority, identifiable by the label "MAINE" on his coat) being offered as a "ride" to the others—who are drawn with exaggerated ethnic features typical of period anti-immigrant satire. The cartoon appears to mock political leadership or authority figures through dehumanizing imagery common to era-specific prejudice. The "Ice House" setting and the question "Ride Him?" suggest commentary on either political manipulation, labor conditions, or immigration policy, though without additional publication date and context, the specific historical reference remains unclear.