The Wasp — 1890 — page 314: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The page contains several satirical pieces typical of late 19th-century American humor magazines. **Top cartoon** shows a man and woman at dinner discussing "Swiss cookery," with the man reading a menu of Italian dishes (Rissoli, Polenta, etc.). The joke appears to mock pretentious dining or fraud—presenting Italian food as "Swiss." **"Photographia" section** satirizes railroad men's response to a recent train accident on the Tallahatchie grade, where a train jumped tracks at high speed. The humor targets their casual attitude toward disaster and their boastful incompetence. **Other pieces** discuss: Kate Kennedy's monument funding troubles; the Charleston's naval history; the Art Association's exhibitions; and various social/political issues including Chinese exclusion and tariff policies affecting coffee and tea imports. The magazine's overall tone combines local San Francisco events with national political commentary through satirical commentary and illustration.