The Wasp — 1881 — page 415: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page consists primarily of two poems from *The Wasp*, a San Francisco satirical magazine (dated May 16, 1881). **"The Cynic's Bequest"** is a lengthy satirical poem critiquing a wealthy man of questionable character. The poem mocks his hypocrisy, suggesting he accumulated wealth through morally dubious means while pretending to virtue. References to "Hakims," "the Shah," and "Ispahan" indicate Middle Eastern themes, though the specific political targets remain unclear without additional context. The second poem appears to satirize colonial or imperial subjects, mentioning "Meerza Solyman Zingali" and various geographical locations. Below is a "To Contributors, etc." section offering editorial guidance to writers submitting to the magazine, covering issues of attribution and appropriate content. **No visible cartoon illustrations appear on this page**—it is text-only.