The Wasp — 1888 — page 411: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains three distinct poem sections rather than cartoons: 1. **"Rebel or Loyalist?"** by Maurice Thompson—a Civil War-era poem addressing an ex-Confederate soldier, offering reconciliation ("I greet you with uncovered head"). 2. **"Decoration Day"** and **"Memorial Day"**—patriotic poems honoring fallen soldiers, likely from the 1868 period when Decoration Day (now Memorial Day) was formally established. 3. **"What Did the Privates Do?"**—a sardonic poem questioning what ordinary soldiers accomplished, contrasting their sacrifice against officers' glory-seeking. The page also includes official General Orders No. 11 from the Grand Army of the Republic regarding Decoration Day observances. This appears to be post-Civil War content addressing reconciliation, military memorialization, and the overlooked contributions of common soldiers versus leadership.