The Wasp — 1890 — page 427: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This small cartoon depicts two figures in conversation. One says "Hallo, Hooley! Going to the ball game?" and the other responds "No; I've just returned." The joke appears to reference someone named Hooley and a social obligation—attending a ball game versus returning from somewhere else. Without additional context about who "Hooley" specifically refers to in 1890s San Francisco (when *The Wasp* was published), the satire's precise target is unclear. It may lampoon a local figure or represent a broader social commentary about leisure activities and social excuses. The cartoon is minor and the humor is now obscure to modern readers without knowledge of the specific person or scandal referenced.