The Wasp — 1895 — page 315: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical comic strip from *The Wasp* mocks the bicycle craze and business schemes of the era. The narrative follows a con artist/unscrupulous businessman attempting to profit from public enthusiasm for bicycles. **The sequence shows:** - Panel 1: A shady character hiring a "Midwife Pall Spider" (unclear reference) at a bicycle shop - Panel 2: An auction scheme where dramatic antics scare away customers - Panel 3: A crowded scene labeled "Tandems! Bicycles Cheap! Tricks!" with a chaotic mob The satire targets both the bicycle boom's commercial exploitation and the get-rich-quick schemes surrounding it. The title suggests the protagonist "triumphs over obstacles" through dubious means. The humor relies on exaggerated physical comedy and the implication that bicycle dealers used theatrical tactics to manipulate buyers during this speculative craze.