The Wasp — 1894 — page 190: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This 1894 satirical cartoon depicts a domestic scandal among San Francisco's wealthy elite. A woman (Mrs. Newriche) has discovered her husband's infidelity—apparently he lost money at the races and didn't have his trousers turned up, suggesting financial and moral failure. The humor targets the nouveau riche (the "Newriches") living on Nob Hill, San Francisco's most prestigious neighborhood. The husband's excuse about being introduced to "Earl Russell on Kearny street" appears to be a flimsy alibi. A sleeping dog observes the drama impassively. The satire mocks both marital discord and the pretensions of the socially ambitious wealthy class, implying their moral standards are as questionable as their social credentials.