The Wasp — 1890 — page 83: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page features an article by William E. McArthur about two famous San Francisco dogs from the 1860s. The accompanying illustration shows two dogs in a playful confrontation. **The Context:** Bummer and Lazarus were real stray dogs that became local celebrities in 1860s San Francisco, known for hunting rats together. The article recounts their notoriety, including an incident where Bummer killed a bulldog, causing public outcry. **The Satire:** The piece gently mocks San Francisco society's obsession with these dogs—their exploits were documented, sketched, and debated publicly as if they were important civic figures. The article notes that "Emperor Norton" (another famous San Francisco character) endorsed them, highlighting how the city celebrated eccentric personalities and animals. **Modern Relevance:** This satirizes how urban populations elevate ordinary animals to celebrity status, a phenomenon that persists today with internet-famous pets.