The Wasp — 1888 — page 194: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains editorials and advertisements rather than political cartoons. The main illustration shows a disheveled man holding a bottle, captioned "WANTED A THUMPER." The accompanying story describes a farmer seeking someone to help him manage a hired man named John Henry who has become unruly and lazy. The farmer wants to hire someone to physically discipline ("thumper") the problematic worker. The piece satirizes labor disputes and worker management in the era, likely reflecting real tensions between California farmers and their employees. It's presented as humorous dialogue but reflects the casual violence and coercion used to control workers during this period. The rest of the page contains poetry, advice columns, and product advertisements for California raisins and health remedies—typical magazine filler content of the era.