The Wasp — 1894 — page 26: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page's central cartoon depicts grotesque figures labeled "WONDERS OF THE FAIR," likely referencing San Francisco's Panama-Pacific International Exposition (1915). The exaggerated, caricatured figures—with distorted features and awkward postures—appear designed to mock either fair attendees or exhibits presented as curiosities. The accompanying dialogue jokes about oysters, bivales, and California Market produce, suggesting satirical commentary on both the fair's attractions and San Francisco's commercial culture. The page is otherwise dominated by medical advertisements (typical for this era's magazines), promoting treatments for skin diseases, "weak men and women," and various patent remedies—standard content reflecting contemporary attitudes toward medical marketing.