The Wasp — 1894 — page 245: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes financial hardship in San Francisco. A man labeled "COAL" carries a burden (representing fuel costs), surrounded by unpaid bills scattered across the floor. A sign on the door reads "NO MONEY TO PAY BILLS! Mrs. SAN FRANCISCO," indicating the entire city suffers economic distress. The caption states: "No money to pay even her coal bills and every—" The cartoon depicts a household in financial crisis, unable to afford basic necessities like coal for heating. The family members (including a child and what appears to be a goat) represent dependents relying on the struggling head of household. This likely reflects economic depression or inflation affecting San Francisco residents, critiquing either municipal mismanagement or broader economic conditions affecting working families' ability to afford essential utilities.