The Wasp — 1892 — page 49: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This New Year's themed satirical page mocks various public figures' hollow resolutions. The central portrait appears to be a prominent politician or public figure whose commitments are questioned. Surrounding vignettes depict people making absurd pledges: one promises not to steal (labeled "10 years for burglary"), another swears off ice cream soda, and others renounce drinking or minor vices—implying these are meaningless given their actual behavior. Panel 2 references Oakland's police needing to capture burglars, suggesting widespread crime and ineffective law enforcement. The overall satire suggests that New Year's resolutions made by public figures and criminals alike are merely performative gestures without genuine intention to reform. The page cynically implies that promises of self-improvement are universally insincere, particularly among those in power.