The Wasp — 1894 — page 135: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The caricature depicts a tall, thin man with an exaggerated nose riding a bicycle while juggling a top hat. The accompanying poem identifies him as someone well-connected in San Francisco who can "cross the street / By stepping over its cable cars" and claims he's "the best known master on the street." The lower section contains humorous mock-interviews ("Over the Phone") with various San Francisco figures discussing local politics, insurance fraud, and social scandals. References include debates about Democratic nominations, complaints about insurance company practices in the fire-ravaged city, and gossip about prominent citizens. The page satirizes San Francisco's wealthy elite and their various corruptions—suggesting they navigate the city with ease while ordinary citizens struggle, and highlighting perceived dishonesty in business and politics.