The Wasp — 1894 — page 156: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains music criticism by A. Sharp and a satirical life sketch of **Mr. Arthur M'Ewen**, described as "The Aspiring Letter-Writer and Earnest Social Reformer." The cartoon (by Jimmy Swinnerton) depicts M'Ewen as a pretentious figure—likely satirizing his reform rhetoric or journalistic ambitions. The accompanying poem mocks him as an angry, self-important critic who attacks others' "sharpness" while failing to read carefully himself. The satire suggests M'Ewen positioned himself as a serious social critic but lacked genuine substance—a common target in The Wasp's satirical coverage of San Francisco's reform movement and media figures during this period. The music section reviews recent performances, including work by the Imperial Vienna Prater Orchestra.