The Wasp — 1877 — page 196: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The page contains two political cartoons with accompanying satirical commentary. The left cartoon depicts a thin, disheveled figure labeled "Vasilia" being confronted by what appears to be a well-dressed official or authority figure. The satire concerns poor living conditions and meals in San Francisco's Vasilia neighborhood. The right cartoon shows a "Disgusted Burglar" who has just robbed a house containing only chilledsteel and worthless items. The burglar expresses frustration at the meager haul, sarcastically suggesting he'll "elect myself President, Cashier an' all." The surrounding text addresses various local San Francisco issues: banking scandals, school superintendent controversies, saloon closures, jury procedures, and livestock shipping to the San Francisco market. The overall tone mocks civic corruption and social inequality in 1880s San Francisco.