The Wasp — 1891 — page 226: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts a scene of public humiliation involving a "small boy" (likely a young man or newcomer) being mocked by well-dressed gentlemen in what appears to be a formal setting, possibly a courtroom or gentleman's club. The accompanying story "Unauthenticated Tales" by A.B. describes how Gen. Barnes was tricked into paying a clerk $25,000 for a worthless newspaper during the Sharon trial—a major 1880s San Francisco scandal. The anecdote illustrates themes of public embarrassment and social mockery of the duped victim. The cartoon's title "The Small Boy Again" suggests recurring humiliation of an inexperienced or foolish figure, likely referencing contemporary San Francisco society scandals and the social ridicule that followed financial or legal misadventures. The satire targets gullibility and public shame.