The Wasp — 1888 — page 74: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains three poems rather than cartoons: "A Cold Day" (attributed to Minnesotan Fritz), "A Sacerdotal Lay," and "The Plumber." "A Cold Day" satirizes a German immigrant's hardships—referencing Minnesota winters, his impoverished journey from St. Paul to California, and failed business ventures. The dialect humor ("Ach! cold!") was typical period satire of German-American characters. "A Sacerdotal Lay" appears to mock religious hypocrisy, describing a nun's supposedly pure vows versus her worldly concerns. "The Plumber" mocks working-class pretension—the tradesman overcharges customers while complaining about his own financial struggles, satirizing his inflated self-importance despite humble status. These pieces reflect *The Wasp's* focus on class commentary and immigrant stereotypes common to 1880s San Francisco satirical journalism.