The Wasp — 1887 — page 254: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon from *The Wasp* (October 8, 1887) uses a trap-and-mouse metaphor for political scheming. The image shows three men's heads in various positions—one above peering down, one at ground level, and one caged—with a dead rat and a snake or wire forming a trap mechanism. The caption "A Good Catch—Set It Again" suggests these figures are caught in some form of political snare or scandal, with the implication that whoever controls the trap intends to catch them repeatedly. Without identifying the specific individuals or event, the cartoon appears to satirize political entrapment, corruption, or manipulation occurring in San Francisco during 1887. The rat imagery suggests contempt for those caught.