The Wasp — November 15, 1879 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis: "The Carnival Ball" (The Wasp, November 13, 1879) This satirical cartoon depicts a masquerade ball where attendees wear elaborate costumes and masks. The central figure appears to be a grotesque caricature—likely representing a political or social figure of the era—surrounded by formally dressed guests in evening wear. The caption states "No person will be admitted on the floor at the ball unless in full evening or fancy dress," suggesting this critiques exclusionary social practices or hypocrisy among San Francisco's elite. The subtitle reads "Lousck is everything—Ludicrous end of a lucrative ball," though "Lousck" is unclear—possibly an OCR error for a person's name. The overall satire appears to mock pretentious high-society gatherings and the artificiality of masked balls, where social status and appearances matter above substance.