The Wasp — 1888 — page 207: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a giant wasp as a destructive force threatening American prosperity. The wasp, labeled with what appears to be economic or labor-related terms, attacks various figures representing different sectors of society—workers, businessmen, and citizens attempting to defend themselves with tools and weapons. The scenes show repeated confrontations between ordinary people and the wasp, suggesting widespread economic damage or threat. The subtitle "A Stab at Our Prosperity" plays on the wasp's stinging nature as a metaphor for whatever crisis endangered the nation's economic wellbeing at the time of publication. The detailed engravings suggest this addresses a serious contemporary threat to American commerce and stability, though the specific historical moment requires additional context to identify precisely.