The Wasp — July 10, 1880 — page 15: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily **advertising and editorial content** rather than political satire. The dominant feature is a large caricatured head labeled "OH! AH! MULLER - The Leading Optician" at 135 Montgomery Street, promoting his optical services with a thirty-year establishment claim. The page contains numerous San Francisco business advertisements (engine bearings, cylinder oils, hat makers, zithers instruction) typical of late 19th-century publication filler. The left column includes an essay titled "Great Fortunes," discussing ancient Roman and Greek wealth compared to modern American fortunes—editorial commentary rather than satire. At bottom, a small illustration for C. Herrmann's hat shop appears, showing two figures in period dress, likely generic advertising imagery. The page demonstrates how satirical magazines supplemented editorial content with extensive paid advertising.