The Wasp — 1878 — page 266: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains three separate satirical articles rather than cartoons: 1. **"After the Battle"** - Commentary on post-election chaos, mocking military-style organization of children and incompetent leadership. 2. **"The Usual Defence of Crime"** - Critiques police court procedures and defendants' excuses. References a specific case where someone claimed they drank coffee without sugar, attributing their violent crime to this dietary omission. The satire attacks both criminal excuses and judicial leniency. 3. **"Weakening the Water Monopoly"** and **"House Moving in San Francisco"** - Brief news items about local San Francisco issues regarding water utilities and building relocation. The tone is consistently sardonic, attacking government incompetence, legal absurdity, and municipal mismanagement typical of American satirical journalism of this era.