The Wasp — 1891 — page 100: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page satirizes California politics during a Republican campaign canvassing effort. The main targets appear to be: **"A Thief! Who is the Jailbird?"** and **"Who is the Thief?"** — These sections mock political hypocrisy, suggesting candidates are criminals or untrustworthy. The repeated phrase "kitridge" appears to reference a specific political figure or scandal (likely Judge Henshaw or another candidate). **The William Keith subplot** satirizes art criticism, showing a painter irritated by a pedantic critic's nitpicking over a portrait's orientation—a metaphor for political critique itself being absurd. The cartoons throughout feature caricatured figures in exaggerated poses, typical of *Wasp*'s style, mocking politicians' credibility during campaign season. The overall point: both sides accuse each other of criminality while ignoring their own corruption.