The Wasp — 1890 — page 122: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts San Francisco's political representatives as grotesque, demonic creatures erupting from a large boot. The exaggerated caricatures—with wild hair, distorted features, and aggressive postures—suggest corruption or incompetence among city officials. The "boots" reference likely alludes to both the literal boot imagery and the phrase "to boot" (meaning "in addition"), emphasizing that these problematic figures keep multiplying. The chaotic scene with figures flying in all directions suggests disorder and mismanagement in municipal government. *The Wasp* was known for vicious attacks on San Francisco's political establishment. Without visible date or specific names on this page, the exact officials targeted remain unclear, but the satire condemns the city's leadership as monstrous and contemptible.