The Wasp — 1877 — page 343: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The cartoon (top left) depicts a woman in Victorian dress riding on a large wheel labeled "TRIBUNE," suggesting she represents a character associated with the San Francisco *Tribune* newspaper. The illustration satirizes her as frivolous or foolish—"very frolicsome." The accompanying text mocks newspapers' breathless coverage of trivial society events and gossip. It critiques how the press—particularly the *Tribune*—treats minor incidents with excessive drama, using flowery language about "sweet sounds" and theatrical reporting. The satire targets sensationalist journalism and the press's prioritization of entertainment over substantive news, a common critique in 19th-century American satirical magazines.