The Wasp — 1887 — page 203: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon depicts an elderly man with white hair and mustache lying on the ground, appearing exhausted or defeated. He's surrounded by symbolic elements: a cane or walking stick on the left, birds in flight, and what appear to be small animal figures below. The text "SCOUTING THE SPOILS AFOOT TIME" suggests commentary on someone seeking political or material advantages. The figure's advanced age and prone position, combined with the predatory imagery (birds, animals), likely satirizes an aging politician attempting to maintain power or secure benefits—a common theme in Gilded Age satire about corruption and the "spoils system" of political patronage. The specific identity remains unclear without additional context from *The Wasp*.