The Wasp — 1888 — page 354: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page from *The Wasp* contains political commentary and humorous articles rather than traditional cartoons. The main content discusses William E. Dargie, a Republican candidate for State Senate in Oakland, praised for his integrity and business success. The text satirizes California politics, contrasting Republican and Democratic party standards. It mocks Blaine (likely James G. Blaine, a prominent 19th-century Republican) and references the upcoming Republican National Convention in Chicago. The "Mysterious Fatalities" section catalogs suspicious deaths allegedly linked to kidney disease, critiquing inadequate medical diagnosis and pharmaceutical cures like "Warner's Safe Cure." Shorter pieces mock politicians, women's fashion, and religious hypocrisy. The overall tone is skeptical of both political parties and contemporary institutions, typical of satirical magazines of this era.