The Wasp — 1895 — page 373: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon mocks German Democratic leadership during what appears to be the early 20th century. The central figure is identified as "Aleck Vogelsang," described as "A Prince of the Four Hundred / With his big *boulangiere*" (likely referencing political pretension). The cartoon depicts German Democratic leaders as disorganized sheep awaiting salvation ("lightning"), suggesting their incompetence and lack of decisive action. The poem's repeated references to waiting—"tired with waiting / For that lightning to come down"—satirizes their political paralysis. The figure's top hat and formal dress emphasize their pretension versus actual ineffectiveness. The overall message critiques German Democratic leadership as out-of-touch elites incapable of addressing the nation's problems.