The Wasp — 1887 — page 99: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page presents a satirical cartoon about railroad worker identification. The image shows a sequence of figures arranged vertically, depicting what appears to be railroad employees in various states of dress and condition. The title references "Railroad Identification" with "Before and After" suggesting a comparison of how railroad workers appeared or were treated under different circumstances—likely commenting on working conditions, wages, or labor practices in the railroad industry during this period. The detailed clothing and positioning of the figures suggests The Wasp is satirizing either the exploitation of railroad laborers or changes in how they were identified or classified by railroad companies. However, without additional context about the specific date or railroad labor disputes, the precise historical reference remains unclear.