The Wasp — 1890 — page 139: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page from *The Wasp* contains political commentary rather than a traditional cartoon. The central illustration depicts a woman (labeled "She") collecting coins from a man (labeled "He"), with dialogue about Chinese quarters of San Francisco and complete collections. The text critiques San Francisco's social and political issues: the mismanagement of local democracy, corruption among civic leaders (particularly referencing "Mr. Buckley"), the problem of vagrants and street sweeping, and the lack of proper public facilities like a Mechanics' Pavilion. The article also attacks the *Call* newspaper for hypocrisy—previously criticizing a Boston politician for similar corruption that it now tolerates locally. The satirical point: San Francisco's establishment ignores or excuses the same misconduct they once condemned elsewhere.