The Wasp — 1881 — page 105: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page from *The Wasp* presents satirical vignettes of Sacramento life. The title "Sacramento Sketches" organizes six scenes depicting local activities and social commentary. The top panels show tourist attractions ("Sutter's Fort," "Old Moses") alongside what appears to be a capsule variety show or entertainment venue. The middle sections label scenes "Improving on Nature" and "Going to Town," suggesting commentary on Sacramento's development and transportation. The bottom panel, "Sacramento Streets in Winter," depicts residents navigating flooded streets in barrels and makeshift vessels—likely satirizing Sacramento's notorious flooding problems and poor infrastructure during wet seasons. The exaggerated depiction of residents using barrels as boats mocks both the city's drainage issues and residents' creative adaptation to chronic flooding. Overall, the page uses humor to critique Sacramento's growing pains, infrastructure failures, and frontier character.