The Wasp — October 4, 1879 — page 13: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily **theatrical criticism and advertisement**, not political satire. The main content reviews several stage productions: 1. **"Arabian Nights"** - praised for Oriental entertainment value 2. **"Topsy-turvy and Crucible"** - critiqued for weak acting, particularly Miss Jeffrey-Lewis 3. **"The Hush"** - an open comedy praised for preventing character assignment issues 4. **"Baldwin"** - genuine comedy featuring Mr. James O'Neill as an English fop in America, noting his skilled character work The cartoon (lower left) appears to show a man in period costume, likely illustrating one of these theatrical productions. The page concludes with advertisements for San Francisco establishments, including "The Fountain" restaurant. This reflects **1880s-90s American popular culture**, with emphasis on theatrical entertainment criticism rather than political commentary.