The Wasp — 1887 — page 438: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts what appears to be corrupt officials or politicians literally lying on the ground in disarray, labeled with terms like "POWDERLY" and "SHEELE" (likely labor or political figures of the era). The central figure above them holds what appears to be financial documents or ledgers, suggesting embezzlement or financial malfeasance. The cartoon critiques corruption among public officials, showing them literally prostrate—defeated or exposed. The scattered papers and money visible suggest financial impropriety. The exaggerated caricatures and poses mock these figures' perceived moral failings. Without definitive dating, this likely reflects late 19th-century American concerns about labor leader corruption or political scandals, common targets of The Wasp's satirical commentary.