The Wasp — 1888 — page 274: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains three distinct sections: "Our Pictures" (a political cartoon), "Sun and Star" (poetry), and "Literary Note" (magazine review), plus an advertisement about lottery winnings. The cartoon section critiques **Mayor Todd's political maneuvering**. The text describes how Todd uses cigarette-smoking imagery to distract from real governance issues—specifically his favoritism toward certain political factions while claiming neutrality. The cartoon appears to satirize corrupt municipal politics and cronyism prevalent in late 19th-century American cities. The "Holding a Lucky Number" advertisement humorously describes a merchant's lottery ticket purchase, mocking both gambling culture and get-rich-quick schemes popular among working-class readers. The page dates to **1887** (visible in text references), reflecting Gilded Age urban political corruption concerns.