The Wasp — 1894 — page 426: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts a social scene at what appears to be a fashionable San Francisco venue. The illustration shows well-dressed figures in formal attire (top hats, elaborate clothing) in what the caption identifies as "At the Society Circus." The accompanying dialogue suggests satire about high society's preoccupations. One figure asks if this is "the first society circus held in San Francisco, Mr. Oldboy," implying this is a notable social event. The responses hint at cynicism about society gatherings—one notes that "divorce court is in good working order," suggesting the satire critiques the marital troubles or moral decay among San Francisco's elite. The "circus" framing mocks society gatherings as spectacles of vanity and scandal rather than genuine cultural events.