The Wasp — 1890 — page 456: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains multiple satirical pieces targeting San Francisco politics and society circa early 1900s. **"A Husband's Wail"** (top cartoon) depicts a man confronting his wife about infidelity, with text condemning his "basely" acting toward their child's mother—satirizing hypocritical moral standards. **"Phonographia"** discusses actress Bella Peterman's alleged insult to the American flag, mocking theatrical drama and celebrity pretension. The main political content (bottom) targets **Boss Buckley** and San Francisco Democratic politics, listing 102,120 candidates for various offices (Governor, Senate, House, etc.)—absurdly inflating numbers to ridicule machine politics and patronage corruption. The satire suggests Democratic dominance relies on excessive political appointments rather than merit. **Caricatures** of politicians appear but specific identities aren't clearly labeled in the visible text.