The Wasp — March 13, 1880 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page contains two distinct sections: **political commentary** (top) and **social satire** (bottom labeled "Feuilleton"). The **top section** discusses Chinese labor and manufacturing in California, arguing that employing Chinese workers at lower wages forces white laborers out of jobs. The satire criticizes how this creates economic resentment while defenders claim Chinese workers simply fill necessary roles—portraying the debate as cyclical and intractable. The **bottom section** ("Sacramento") satirizes local politics and a specific bill, mocking what appears to be legislative absurdity. The dialogue between characters (Moses, Levy, M.) employs ethnic stereotypes common to 1880s American satire. The **illustration** shows two well-dressed gentlemen in top hats, though their specific identities are unclear from the image alone. The overall tone reflects *The Wasp*'s anti-Chinese sentiment, a dominant theme in California journalism of this era.