The Wasp — 1890 — page 403: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains several satirical items about San Francisco society and entertainment circa the 1880s-90s. The top illustrations mock a shipwrecked party and someone disappointed by a "No Smoking Allowed" sign—likely social commentary on inconvenience or regulation. The main article "Other Peoples' Money" discusses a railroad project to Alaska and Jordan's $1 million San Francisco real estate purchase, satirizing speculation and Eastern financial influence on Pacific development. Brief entertainment notes mention opera performers and shows, suggesting The Wasp tracked cultural life. A joke section ("At a Merced Match") involves pigeon racing fraud—hiring someone to paste postage stamps on birds' legs, an absurdist setup. The page reflects *The Wasp*'s focus on mocking wealthy San Franciscans, financial schemes, and contemporary urban follies through humor and illustration.