The Wasp — 1881 — page 472: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains two distinct sections: a "Political" column on the left and "Jokes of the Period" on the right. The **Political section** discusses San Francisco municipal governance and upcoming elections. It criticizes both Republican and Democratic candidates and their platforms, mentioning specific figures like Supervisor J. D. Whitney and others. The satire targets what the author sees as self-serving politics and wasteful municipal spending. The **Jokes section** on the right consists of brief humorous anecdotes, several referencing "Cookling" (likely a specific public figure of the period). These jokes mock various subjects including matrimony, gender relations, and social pretense—typical period humor relying on conventional stereotypes. Without identifying specific illustrations, the page appears to be editorial commentary and light satire typical of 1880s-90s American satirical magazines.