The Wasp — 1888 — page 338: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a well-dressed gentleman (left) appearing anxious or uncertain as a goblin-like figure (right) guides or manipulates him along a narrow, dangerous path. The visible text fragment reads "...HIS UNCERTAIN TREAD," suggesting the gentleman is being led into precarious territory. A bottle labeled "FERRO" (likely a patent medicine or alcoholic product) hangs from below, indicating the cartoon satirizes either the gentleman's dependence on such substances or the dubious claims of patent medicines popular in the era. The goblin likely represents deception, vice, or charlatanry—common satirical targets in Gilded Age publications. The overall message appears to critique how certain products or influences lead the gullible public down problematic paths.