The Wasp — 1894 — page 327: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a large rooster with exaggerated features dominating a pond populated by smaller figures labeled as various political figures, each caricatured as ducks or waterfowl. The sign reads "ALL DUCKS FOUND BATHING IN THIS POND WILL BE PROSECUTED AS MY PROPERTY." The rooster appears to represent a dominant political or business figure asserting control over lesser politicians or rivals shown as subordinate "ducks." The satire criticizes authoritarian political behavior or monopolistic control—the powerful figure claiming ownership of those around him. Visible names on the figures include Stevenson, Morton, Hersey, Smith, Cresham, and others, suggesting this critiques specific 19th-century political actors, though their exact relationships remain unclear without additional context.