The Wasp — 1888 — page 58: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This multi-panel satirical cartoon appears to critique political corruption and moral hypocrisy. The narrative follows a gentleman (likely a politician or wealthy figure) through escalating scenes of wrongdoing—labeled panels reference "Baby Mine," "The Devil," and "Not Yet"—suggesting a progression from initial vice to damnation. The phrase "It Swells to Heaven" likely means the corruption grows so large it reaches divine notice. The final panels show supernatural consequences, with demonic or otherworldly figures appearing, implying karmic justice or moral reckoning. The style is typical of late 19th/early 20th-century American political satire in publications like *The Wasp*, using exaggerated caricature and sequential narrative to warn against specific corrupt practices or scandals. The specific figures referenced remain unclear without additional historical context.