The Wasp — 1892 — page 145: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a title page for "Library of California Writers," featuring portraits and biographical commentary on literary figures. The page focuses on **Charles F. McGlashan** and **Joseph Wasson**, two 19th-century California writers. The text emphasizes McGlashan's novel about Nevada stagecoach drivers and Apache conflicts, noting it was politically controversial—chapters were reportedly printed as political ammunition against author John F. Swift. The commentary also discusses Wasson's journalism work and his editorial stance against Mormon polygamy in Utah. The page celebrates these writers while acknowledging their works' political dimensions and contentious receptions. Rather than satirical cartooning, this represents *The Wasp's* literary criticism and cultural commentary on California authors and their social impact.