The Wasp — 1879 — page 120: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is the cover/title page of a satirical magazine dated February 22, 1879 (Washington's Birthday in America). The main cartoon, captioned "Looking for His Birthday Celebration," depicts a thin, elderly gentleman in 18th-century dress holding a lantern and searching. The figure appears to represent **George Washington**, given the date and period clothing. The satire likely critiques how Washington's birthday was being observed (or neglected) in 1879 San Francisco—perhaps suggesting inadequate public commemoration or that the nation had strayed from Washington's ideals. The lantern imagery evokes Diogenes searching for an honest man, implying Washington seeks something missing in contemporary American society. The magazine cost 10 cents and was published Saturdays at 602 California Street, San Francisco.