The Wasp — 1881 — page 215: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains two distinct pieces: **"Mr. O'Connell's Friend: A Reminiscence of Bohemia"** is a lengthy humorous narrative (not a cartoon) describing a dinner party in San Francisco among journalists and bohemians. It satirizes the pretensions and shabby circumstances of this social circle—their affected manners, drunken behavior, and financial straits. The story mocks their attempts at sophistication while living impoverished lives. **"A Reminiscence"** is a brief editorial note about an 1868 earthquake in Ischia (Italy) and subsequent Neapolitan porcelain fraud, comparing it to California's 1872 earthquake. It appears to be commentary on insurance fraud or disaster exploitation. The page contains no political cartoons—it's primarily satirical prose targeting San Francisco's bohemian literary circles.