The Wasp — 1893 — page 90: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a military officer in ornate dress uniform standing in a parlor, appearing to be a society dandy rather than a serious soldier. The caption notes "The local glass of manly fashion and mold of military form." The satire targets the contrast between martial appearance and actual substance—the officer is surrounded by vanities: a "New Wig for the Colonel," signs advertising "A House and Lot Given Away with Every Tintype" and "Champagne Served in the Tent—Matrons Only," plus framed pictures including "My Coach." The joke mocks California's nouveau-riche military figures who prioritize fashionable display and social frivolity over genuine military competence. The absurd giveaway schemes and champagne-tent exclusivity ridicule both pretentious local society and superficial militarism in 1890s San Francisco.