The Wasp — 1877 — page 209: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical illustration from *The Wasp* depicts various scenes of Chinese immigrant life in San Francisco during the late 19th century. The page shows: **Top panel**: A bustling wharf scene with steamships, depicting the arrival and departure of Chinese immigrants and laborers. **Middle panels**: "In the Street Cars Saturday Nights" and "The Chinese Cemetery" - portraying Chinese social spaces and burial practices. **Bottom panel**: "No Thoroughfare, Kearny Street Crossing" - showing crowded street scenes with Chinese residents. The title "Logging Chips" is a pun suggesting fragmented observations. The satire likely mocked the visible Chinese presence in San Francisco, reflecting contemporary xenophobic attitudes. These illustrations served as visual commentary on Chinese immigration and community integration during a period of significant anti-Chinese sentiment in California.