The Wasp — 1894 — page 84: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes newspaper culture through two journalists discussing their work. The first journalist mentions staying in Chicago only two weeks, while the second notes it's "the usual length of time for a Chicago newspaper man" to stay somewhere before moving on—"only as a rule he don't go back in a wagon car." The joke appears to mock the transient nature of newspaper reporters and editors in the 1890s, suggesting they move between cities frequently and unreliably. The "wagon car" reference adds a humorous touch, possibly implying such workers travel roughly or without proper accommodations. The cartoon critiques the instability and itinerant character of journalism during this era.