The Wasp — 1893 — page 256: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon illustrates a literal gag: a man on a bus loses his hat and balance when wind blows through the vehicle. The caption explains the joke—he's "gets on a bus, and the man loses his balance"—while the visual shows the comedic moment of chaos. The page is primarily a classified advertisements and services section ("Pointers"), with the cartoon as a small illustration. The ads cover hotels, dentists, medical services, and household goods typical of early 20th-century San Francisco (based on street addresses). There's also a poem titled "Had I But Known" on the right side. The cartoon itself contains no political commentary—it's simply visual humor about everyday mishap, reflecting the magazine's lighter satirical content alongside business advertising.