The Wasp — 1893 — page 60: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a wealthy gentleman in a top hat labeled "BIBLE" stepping over a wounded, impoverished soldier lying on the ground. The title references the Biblical parable of the Good Samaritan, who helps a stranger in distress—here inverted as satire. The cartoon criticizes religious hypocrisy: a man ostentatiously carrying the Bible walks past a suffering veteran without assistance. The soldier appears to be from a recent conflict, surrounded by scattered papers or documents. The satire targets wealthy Americans who professed Christian values while ignoring the plight of wounded or destitute soldiers returning from war. It exposes the gap between proclaimed religious morality and actual charitable behavior toward those in genuine need.