The Wasp — 1887 — page 278: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains satirical humor columns and a small illustrated cartoon rather than a major political cartoon. The cartoon depicts what appears to be a cherub or cupid figure in classical style, labeled "EXCHANGE," suggesting commentary on romantic or financial dealings. The text columns mock everyday social situations through fictional letters and dialogues—a husband's infidelity excuses, servant disputes, and romantic misunderstandings. One section mocks a man's excuse that he was "rubbing a toe he had rubbed under a loose plank half long wise." The "French Gold—German Silver" dialogue satirizes class pretension and materialism in relationships, with characters debating marriage prospects based on wealth. The humor targets hypocrisy, social climbing, and domestic absurdities typical of 1890s San Francisco society rather than specific political figures.