The Wasp — 1879 — page 324: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a large, grotesque female figure labeled "S.F. CALI" (San Francisco, California) wearing an enormous bonnet and holding a small man. The figure represents California or San Francisco personified as a domineering woman. She holds a tiny gentleman while a dog labeled "BULLET" sits nearby, and a pot labeled "PURRANT JELLY" sits on a table. The cartoon satirizes political corruption or manipulation—the small man appears trapped or controlled by the massive female figure. "Treacle" (sticky sweet substance) suggests false promises or deceptive political rhetoric. The overall composition ridicules California's political establishment, depicting it as an oversized, controlling force that dominates actual political figures through manipulation and false promises.