The Wasp — 1889 — page 376: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a political cartoon titled "Thanksgiving Dinner" from *The Wasp*, a San Francisco satirical magazine. The figure depicts a man in Elizabethan costume (feathered hat, ruff collar, period clothing) seated at a dining table with a plate and utensils. Labels visible include "Patronage," "Buckley," "Fraud," and what appears to be "Extortion." The cartoon satirizes corruption and dishonest dealings, likely targeting a specific political figure or corrupt official of the era. The Elizabethan costume suggests ironic nostalgia or mockery—perhaps implying the subject's outdated methods or pretensions. The "Thanksgiving Dinner" title combined with labels of fraud and extortion suggests the figure is feasting improperly on ill-gotten gains at the public's expense. The specific political context and identity of "Buckley" would require historical research into *The Wasp*'s publication period and San Francisco politics.