The Wasp — 1893 — page 159: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical illustration depicts various street people and beggars in San Francisco, drawn in exaggerated caricature style typical of 19th-century satirical magazines. The figures include: - Men and women in ragged clothing carrying belongings - Musicians performing for alms (guitar and accordion players) - Individuals displaying disabilities or infirmity to solicit charity - A person entering a "Coffee & Doughnuts" establishment The satire appears to mock urban poverty and the visible homeless population of San Francisco. By presenting these figures as theatrical "types" or character studies, *The Wasp* likely aims at social commentary—either criticizing the poor themselves or satirizing public indifference to poverty. The specific focus on San Francisco suggests this addresses local economic conditions and the city's visible vagrant population during the period when *The Wasp* was published.