The Wasp — 1891 — page 569: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a short story by Arthur Crouch Quiller, not primarily a political cartoon. The narrative concerns a working-class ferry operator named Eli and his interactions with various passengers during a voyage across (appears to be) San Francisco Bay. The central incident involves a woman passenger—described as a "dark, gypsy creature"—who is mistreated by a game-keeper. The story depicts class tensions and social cruelty of the period: the woman's low status makes her vulnerable to abuse. The accompanying illustration shows Eli confronting the game-keeper about his behavior. The satire appears directed at social hypocrisy and the mistreatment of working-class women, rather than at specific political figures.