The Wasp — 1879 — page 542: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical engraving depicts a woman holding a child while gazing upward in an interior domestic scene. The caption "Mutual Delights" appears ironic given the accompanying text about "Ingrateful Supervisors." The text criticizes the Board of Supervisors, referencing their rejection of a Police increase and a Mayor's veto. It sarcastically praises how the Supervisors' "hard headed" representatives have maintained "esteem" through their pedestrian dignity—suggesting the opposite. The domestic scene may symbolize how ordinary citizens (represented by the woman and child) are affected by the Supervisors' political decisions. The work appears to mock the self-righteousness of these officials while highlighting the disconnect between their actions and public welfare, though specific historical context about the 1880 Board remains unclear.