The Wasp — 1891 — page 273: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily **advertising** for San Francisco businesses (liquor dealers, insurance companies, pianos, etc.), with one small satirical cartoon titled "A Figure of Speech." The cartoon depicts two men at what appears to be the Mining Exchange. One says these ducks are "too much for me," and the other responds "How so?" The first replies, "One of 'em was in this morning talking about a 'flurry in lead.'" The joke exploits the double meaning of "flurry"—a sudden commotion versus a sudden market fluctuation in lead prices. By attributing human market-speak to a duck, the cartoon mocks either the absurdity of Mining Exchange gossip or satirizes speculators who speak in ridiculous financial jargon.