The Wasp — 1891 — page 168: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains miscellaneous satirical commentary rather than a prominent political cartoon. The two illustrations labeled "The original coon as he appeared in Africa" and "The coon as he appears now" depict racial caricatures comparing African and African-American figures—reflecting the deeply racist visual humor typical of 1880s American satire magazines. The accompanying text includes brief satirical jabs at various targets: government inefficiency, the Coinage bill, Chinese immigration ("should be wiped off the face of the earth"), and Brigham Young's polygamy. There's also commentary on business failures and medical quackery. The dominant content is a long letter from a physician describing recovery from kidney disease, though it's unclear if this is genuine testimony or satirical commentary on patent medicine claims. The page exemplifies *The Wasp*'s mix of crude racial humor and general social criticism.