The Wasp — 1892 — page 396: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts a bearded man in a garden, holding a net and catching butterflies. The title references Cincinnatus, the Roman leader who abandoned power to return to farming—suggesting this figure is a prominent person who quit public life for peaceful pursuits. The caption identifies him as "M.M.E." and quotes him saying he'll "quit chasing those butterflies and turn my attention in future to bugs, like a good, honest Napa farmer." The satire appears to mock someone from the Napa Valley region who either recently retired from politics or public office to pursue agricultural interests. The "Cincinnati" comparison is ironic—comparing his retreat to bucolic simplicity with the noble Roman statesman. Without identifying M.M.E., the specific political context remains unclear, though it's clearly satirizing a notable regional figure's career shift.