The Wasp — 1879 — page 468: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a large ostrich with its head buried in the ground—a visual pun on the common saying that ostriches bury their heads when threatened. A small figure on the right (appearing to be a prospector or miner with a pickaxe) holds a lasso or rope, seemingly trying to catch the bird. Text reading "S.F. FIRES" appears vertically, and there's a trap labeled "FOR GOLD" at the bottom. The cartoon likely satirizes San Francisco's response to fires or civic problems around 1879—suggesting the city is ignoring dangers (burying its head like an ostrich) while pursuing gold interests instead. The prospector may represent those trying to catch the city's attention to actual threats.