The Wasp — 1894 — page 199: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes a lawyer named Dennis who appears incompetent despite his profession. The illustrated figure displays various "suits" (a pun on legal cases and clothing), presenting himself as knowledgeable about both law and fashion. The accompanying verse mocks his pretensions—claiming expertise in tennis, business, and style while actually bungling all three. His name "Dennis" connects to the tennis theme. The satire targets San Francisco's legal establishment, suggesting some practitioners rely more on appearance and bluster than genuine competence. The dual meaning of "suits" reinforces the joke: Dennis is all surface—flashy clothing and empty claims—with no substance backing his professional credentials. This was typical *Wasp* fodder: deflating local figures' pretensions through wordplay and caricature.