The Wasp — 1887 — page 388: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This December 3, 1887 *Wasp* cartoon depicts a welcoming committee greeting someone identified as "Morrow" arriving in Sonoma County. The exaggerated caricatures of local officials and citizens—shown with grotesque facial features typical of 19th-century satirical illustration—suggest these are recognizable local figures being mocked. The cartoon's humor lies in satirizing the enthusiastic (but likely insincere or self-interested) reception. The crude, grinning faces and crowded scene imply either corruption, incompetence, or hypocritical welcome from Sonoma County's leadership. Without additional historical records identifying "Morrow" specifically, the exact political context remains unclear, though the satire clearly targets local California politics and personalities of that era.