The Wasp — 1878 — page 418: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page from *The Wasp* contains two political cartoons, though the OCR text is largely illegible. **Top panel**: Shows a large, menacing figure towering over a small man in striped clothing. A diagram in the corner appears to illustrate some mechanism or structure. The implied threat and size disparity suggest commentary on power imbalance—possibly depicting a wealthy industrialist, politician, or monopolistic figure intimidating an ordinary citizen or worker. **Bottom panel**: Depicts a man surrounded by documents or papers with text labels (unreadable in reproduction), with classical/allegorical figures visible on the left. This appears to satirize bureaucratic entanglement or legal/financial schemes. Without legible text or identified publication date, the specific political targets remain unclear, though both cartoons emphasize power dynamics and institutional corruption—typical *Wasp* concerns.