The Wasp — 1887 — page 194: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes what appears to be a hot-air balloon or aviation experiment gone awry. A well-dressed man with a prominent mustache is depicted mid-leap or flight, struggling with various aeronautical contraptions—including a parachute and what looks like an experimental flying apparatus. The caption "MORE SUDDEN THAN COMFORTABLE" suggests the joke concerns an unexpectedly rapid descent or crash. The scattered items (a hat, balloon) and the man's chaotic pose emphasize the mishap's violent nature. Without identifying the specific historical figure or experiment referenced, this appears to mock either an actual aviation failure or general skepticism about early flying attempts. The cartoon plays on Victorian-era fascination with—and skepticism toward—technological progress in aviation.