The Wasp — 1879 — page 13: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page from *The Wasp* contains several satirical pieces attacking public figures and social issues: **"Kearney as a Tailor"** mocks someone (likely Denis Kearney, a labor agitator) through quotes characterizing him as a "birding liar" and "wretch" who speaks in "gross and defamatory" language. The satire suggests hypocrisy—he rails against injustice while behaving badly himself. **"A Devil-Fish as a Tug Boat"** describes a literal octopus causing chaos on a ship, apparently serving as a metaphor for disruptive interference or unwanted presence, though the exact political target is unclear from this excerpt. **"Giant Powder Explosion"** references a Chinaman bringing gunpowder home, likely evoking anti-Chinese xenophobia common in 1880s California. The page also includes editorial commentary on labor issues and working-men's assemblies, suggesting *The Wasp* engaged contemporary labor disputes alongside personal attacks.