The Wasp — 1879 — page 140: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains a letter-to-editor discussion about San Francisco's postal delivery service, illustrated with several satirical woodcut vignettes showing mail carriers at work. The main text criticizes the Post Office's efficiency, with an unnamed correspondent defending postal workers against complaints about delivery delays and reliability. The illustrations depict mail carriers struggling with heavy loads, climbing stairs, and navigating the city's challenging terrain and distances. The satire targets both the postal system's inadequacies and public complaints about service. The detailed critique of delivery routes, timing, and the physical hardships endured by carriers suggests this reflects genuine 1870s-80s San Francisco infrastructure frustrations. The letter-writer ultimately argues that postal workers deserve respect for their difficult, undervalued labor.