The Wasp — 1894 — page 174: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains several satirical pieces. The main portrait shows **Hon. James V. Coleman**, identified in the caption, likely a local San Francisco political figure of the era. The text recounts anecdotes mocking various individuals and situations: a story about a waiter serving cake with a ring baked inside, commentary on a cat used in a dubious patent medicine scheme, and jokes about incompetent Democrats and their convention attendance. The small cartoon labeled "ANOTHER GRIST" depicts a man in formal dress, accompanying verses mocking autumn school closures and fire losses—typical turn-of-century American satire targeting local civic incompetence and political foolishness. The page's humor relies on local references and period-specific concerns now obscure to modern readers.