The Wasp — 1877 — page 55: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains two satirical cartoons about agriculture and stock speculation. **Top cartoon ("Agriculture"):** Shows a well-dressed man (likely representing a speculator or investor) receiving a cornucopia of wealth from a farmer figure. The satire suggests wealthy interests are profiting from agricultural production while actual farmers labor. **Bottom cartoon ("Stock Swindling"):** Depicts multiple figures in what appears to be a stock exchange or financial trading scene. The composition suggests chaos or deception in financial markets, with various characters engaged in speculative trading. The overall page critiques the gap between agricultural producers and financial speculators who profit from farming without doing the work—a common Progressive-era complaint about monopolies and financial manipulation controlling American agriculture. The precise date context (visible as "JAN 27-1878" in margins) would help clarify specific events referenced.