The Wasp — 1877 — page 63: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily text-based rather than cartoon-heavy. It contains: 1. **"The Money Question"** — Senator James's letter asking Colonel H.S. Fitch's opinion on recent currency changes, inflation causes, and depression remedies. This addresses 1870s monetary policy debates. 2. **"What is Honest Money?"** — Fitch's response advocating for gold-standard currency and criticizing inconvertible paper money ("fiat money"). He argues only gold or silver should circulate as legal tender. 3. **"The Loss of a Good Wife"** — A sentimental story about a widower mourning his deceased wife. The satire targets post-Civil War monetary debates between hard-money (gold standard) advocates and those supporting paper currency expansion. Fitch represents the conservative financial position of the era.