The Wasp — 1879 — page 408: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical cartoon from *The San Francisco Illustrated Wasp* (June 28, 1879) mocking a mayoral candidate. The central figure is a rooster with a human head wearing a jester's cap, standing atop a compass rose. The rooster's body suggests vanity and foolishness—traditional associations in political satire. The labels around the compass point identify character flaws: "Religion," "Nest-hiding," "Philanthropy," and others appear on the surrounding heads. The cityscape below suggests San Francisco. The satire suggests the candidate is all pomposity and contradiction—a ridiculous "model" candidate who embodies vice rather than virtue, with no consistent principles guiding him. The jester's cap emphasizes the mockery.