The Wasp — 1878 — page 217: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily text-based editorial content rather than political cartoons. The masthead features *The Wasp's* ornate logo with classical figures. The main editorial, "Our Greatness in Crookedness," attacks San Francisco's municipal government for systemic corruption. It criticizes the cost of maintaining city officials (the Tax Collector, Treasurer, and Auditor) while questioning their actual productivity and honesty. The piece sarcastically asks whether these officials truly work or merely extract public funds. A secondary article, "Parents, Look to Your Children," discusses a case involving a boy named Merkie killed during interactions with authorities, using it to critique both Chinese immigration and municipal incompetence. The satire targets corrupt city administration and ineffective governance rather than specific individuals.