The Wasp — 1893 — page 376: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical illustration from San Francisco's *The Wasp* magazine shows a well-dressed man (identified by his apron as a "Pierce Butcher") holding a palm frond and examining a small, distressed human figure laid out before him. The caption reads "California Curiosities—No. 15: The terror of aspiring bards of the wild and woolly West." The cartoon appears to mock a literary or cultural figure—likely a critic or editor who intimidates aspiring Western writers. The butcher imagery suggests brutal criticism or harsh editorial judgment. The small sketches above showing violent scenes labeled "My Victims" reinforce this satirical portrayal of someone wielding destructive power over local artistic ambitions. The overall joke targets someone influential in California's literary scene circa 1893.