The Wasp — 1893 — page 58: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains several satirical anecdotes and illustrations mocking prominent figures and social practices of the era. **"The Colonel Poses"** depicts Colonel Cochrane being confronted by a stalwart member regarding his conduct at Gobey's. The satire criticizes Cochrane's unknown origins and questionable reputation, suggesting he's an impostor of dubious standing. **Other sections** mock medical fraud (a lawyer Gavigan selling pills as medicine), and include a joke about druggists on Hayes Street adulterating substances. The illustrations use caricature and exaggeration typical of satirical magazines. The overall tone targets San Francisco's business and political elite, exposing corruption, fraud, and questionable character while maintaining the irreverent humor characteristic of 19th-century American satire.