The Wasp — 1892 — page 98: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains satirical articles and illustrations mocking urban social issues in what appears to be San Francisco (references to Montgomery Street, Oakland Police). **"The Local Rerunner"** section ridicules a man named Flannigan, an Irish immigrant ("Irishman"), for his incompetence. The satire targets working-class Irish laborers and their perceived foolishness—his attempts to catch rats and dogs result in domestic chaos and injury. **The shoe store anecdote** mocks gender confusion and propriety: a man purchases women's shoes for his wife, creating awkwardness around masculine/feminine footwear distinctions. **"Paralyzed Oakland Police"** (bottom illustration) suggests police incompetence or corruption, though specifics are unclear. The overall tone reflects period prejudices against Irish immigrants and working-class incompetence, common in 19th-century American satire.