The Wasp — 1878 — page 427: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The masthead illustration shows a wasp labeled "THE ILLUSTRATED WASP," establishing the publication's identity as a satirical magazine. The main content consists of two substantial opinion pieces rather than editorial cartoons: 1. **"Our Greatness in Crookedness"** — a critique of American professionals (lawyers, doctors, architects) whom the author accuses of ignorance, incompetence, and moral corruption. The piece sarcastically celebrates how these learned professions operate despite lacking genuine expertise. 2. **"Why do People go to Church?"** — discusses hypocrisy in religious practice, questioning whether church attendance reflects genuine faith or social obligation. Both articles represent The Wasp's satirical approach: using sarcasm and social commentary to mock institutional failures and public pretension rather than relying on visual caricature alone.