The Wasp — 1881 — page 132: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a theatrical satire dramatizing the reception of **King Kalakaua of Hawaii** (identifiable by the text and his centrality in the scene). The cartoon depicts a chaotic "Palace Hotel Court" scene where Kalakaua is received by San Francisco's "usual gang" of politicians and society figures. The satire mocks the pretentious civic reception—note the elaborate menu listing exotic foods, the ornate speeches, and the frenzied activity. The humor likely targets either: 1. **Hawaiian sovereignty** and American imperialist attitudes toward Pacific kingdoms, or 2. **San Francisco high society's** absurd self-importance in hosting a foreign dignitary The slapstick illustration shows undignified chaos, suggesting the reception was ridiculous pageantry masking either disrespect or social climbing among local elites.