The Wasp — 1879 — page 817: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page features a satirical illustration titled "Convict Courtesies" showing a well-dressed man in military uniform flirting with a woman identified as "Gretchen, one of Deutschland's lasses." The caption's poem mocks his courteous behavior toward her while suggesting hypocrisy—he's charming with her despite being associated with convicts. The accompanying article critiques San Francisco officials, particularly Judge Ames, for allegedly recruiting convicts to serve as prison guards. The satire suggests these officials cynically appointed unqualified, disreputable men to positions of authority, contradicting their public respectability. The cartoon appears to equate this moral corruption with the flowery politeness depicted—highlighting the disconnect between genteel appearance and unethical conduct in governance.