The Wasp — 1889 — page 251: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains three distinct pieces of satirical content: 1. **"Spring"** — A poem celebrating seasonal renewal, without apparent political content. 2. **"Hamp's Troubles"** — A dialogue satirizing political hypocrisy. The Governor of Mississippi discusses taking care of "the state-house yard" while avoiding responsibility. A Republican President is mentioned. The satire appears to target Southern Democratic evasion of duty and political duplicity regarding governance. 3. **"The Devil Could Not Do It"** — A brief anecdote about Lord Eldon, a coachman, and cheating. The punchline suggests the devil himself couldn't accomplish what human deception achieved, mocking moral failings. **"Lydia Thompson and the Goat"** — A humorous poem about a dead billy goat, apparently unrelated to the political content above. The page overall reflects *The Wasp*'s focus on lampooning political corruption and social hypocrisy through vernacular dialogue and verse.