The Wasp — 1891 — page 553: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains two editorial cartoons satirizing bureaucratic incompetence regarding a lottery case before the Supreme Court. **Left cartoon**: Labeled "Editor (of French Camp *Basso*)" shows a figure at a desk overwhelmed by paperwork and legal documents, suggesting the complexity of the case. **Right cartoon**: Labeled "Editor (as a delinquent subscriber leaves the door open)" depicts someone departing while papers scatter, implying administrative chaos. The accompanying text criticizes Attorney-General Maury's weak legal arguments defending the government's position on legalized gambling. The satire suggests the government bungled this constitutional case, with The Wasp mocking both Maury's competence and the overall legal handling of lottery regulation disputes.