The Wasp — 1894 — page 18: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon mocks a man named George for his potential candidacy as School Director. The woman, wearing an elaborate feathered boa, suggests he'd be "a handsome fellow" for such a position. George's response reveals the cartoon's point: he dismisses the idea, noting that School Directors merely sign papers approving what one man decides—implying the role is a meaningless sinecure (cushy job requiring little work). The joke critiques both George's vanity (flattered by being called "handsome") and the ineffectual nature of the School Director position itself. The elaborate formal dress and romantic setting underscore the superficiality of political appointments based on appearance rather than actual governance or decision-making authority.