The Wasp — 1890 — page 53: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page features biographical profiles of two prominent California figures from *The Wasp*, a 19th-century satirical magazine. **Gen. William A. Davies** (left) was San Francisco's County Clerk, praised for his Union loyalty during the Civil War and subsequent public service roles, including positions in the State Controller's office and State Legislature. **Peter Andrew Finigan** (right) is the State Democratic Club Treasurer, credited with developing California's water supply systems and breeding fine horses. The brief comic dialogue at bottom ("A Day of Rejoicing") mocks someone throwing a party—apparently to celebrate an enemy's funeral rather than entertain friends—a dark joke about malicious social behavior. The page represents *The Wasp*'s mix of serious biographical coverage and satirical commentary on California politics and society.