The Wasp — 1890 — page 226: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon depicts six men's heads with halos arranged in the sky like saints, with a bear and shovel in the foreground. The caption identifies them as E.M. Fitzgerald, C.H. Garutte, W.H. Miller, C.F. Crocker, J.T. Greany, and J.P. Dockery. The title "California's Firmament" sarcastically presents these figures as celestial or saintly. The bear—California's state symbol—and shovel suggest mining or labor exploitation. The satire likely critiques these men as prominent California businessmen or politicians who were revered by some but seen by *The Wasp's* editors as exploitative or corrupt. The halo imagery mocks their public reputation versus their actual conduct. Without additional context, specific grievances remain unclear.