The Wasp — 1893 — page 382: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon from *The Wasp* (November 4, 1893) depicts two figures walking together—a man in a bowler hat and overcoat carrying a cane, and a woman in an elaborate dark dress with an ornate hat, accompanied by a small dog. The caption reads: "Don't you think, Colonel, San Francisco's great park is incomparable?" with the response "What is fine pray?" The satire appears to target San Francisco's Golden Gate Park and possibly a prominent local figure (likely a colonel or businessman) being questioned about his aesthetic judgment. The woman's elaborate, fashionable dress contrasts with the man's more reserved appearance, suggesting commentary on social pretension or differing standards of taste among the city's elite. The specific political or social reference remains unclear without additional historical context.