The Wasp — 1879 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This 1878 *Wasp* cartoon depicts **Death** (the bearded, winged figure with a scythe) as a ferryman collecting souls into baskets labeled with years (1879, 1818). The baskets contain human heads, suggesting prominent figures who died or faced political "death" during these periods. The satire critiques **mortality and political obsolescence**—likely targeting deceased or discredited politicians or public figures from recent years. The "To the Eternity" banner frames this as inevitable judgment. The specific identities of the figures in the baskets are unclear from the image alone, though the detail suggests they were recognizable contemporaries to 1878 readers. This appears to be commentary on recent political losses or deaths significant to San Francisco audiences.