The Wasp — 1888 — page 278: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts what appears to be a "Political Contest" (per the partial visible text). The image shows two figures riding a donkey while being chased or threatened by an elephant's trunk. The figures display exaggerated facial features typical of 19th-century political caricature. The donkey and elephant likely represent the Democratic and Republican parties respectively—symbols that became standard in American political cartoons of this era. The dynamic suggests a competitive or contentious political struggle, with the riders (presumably politicians or political factions) in a precarious situation. Without clearer text or additional context, the specific political event, candidates, or issue being satirized remains unclear, though the cartoon clearly mocks the chaos or danger of contemporary political competition.