The Wasp — 1879 — page 45: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The main cartoon depicts a frog sitting on what appears to be a log or surface, captioned "A plague on both your houses." This is a direct reference to Shakespeare's *Romeo and Juliet*, suggesting the depicted conflict between two parties is mutually destructive and foolish. The accompanying text describes a violent political confrontation, mentioning "the individual members of the political squad" engaged in bitter vituperations and physical comedy. The text sarcastically praises the *Wasp* for depicting this "frog battle" between Eighteenth and Dolores street factions. Without additional context identifying the specific San Francisco political figures or neighborhoods involved, the satire targets local political rivalries as petty and absurd—worthy of mockery through classical literary allusions.