The Wasp — 1893 — page 213: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily a **business directory and advertisements** for San Francisco firms, with decorative satirical illustrations. The two cartoons shown are **generic social humor** rather than political commentary: 1. **"The Report Courteous"** depicts a well-dressed man and woman on what appears to be a seesaw or plank, illustrating the caption about polite excuses ("I'm dressed for a concert"). 2. **"The Improvement the Order of the Age"** advertises a Smith-Premier typewriter, showing a figure at the machine—typical product advertising using humorous imagery. The bottom section contains joke dialogues mocking relationships and social situations (mothers, sons, seaside romance), common humor fare of the era. The page emphasizes **commercial San Francisco** more than satire—it's essentially a business guide dressed in the magazine's comedic aesthetic.