The Wasp — 1887 — page 50: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily text-based, containing multiple short satirical pieces and social commentary rather than prominent cartoons. The "Postscripts" section includes anecdotes mocking various subjects: a "sharp-nosed man" at a circus, alligator trainers, and beer privileges. One piece ridicules a woman trying to sell "bleaching for washing purposes," while another discusses the Kanaka labor system—a historical practice of recruiting Pacific Islander workers, often under exploitative conditions. The page includes obituary-like commentary about Frank Pixley (a prominent San Francisco figure) and satire about swimming bath etiquette and suit distribution. The humor relies on contemporary San Francisco references and social anxieties about labor, propriety, and local personalities that would have resonated with *The Wasp's* readership but require historical context to fully appreciate today.