The Wasp — 1888 — page 372: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains three distinct sections: "Our Pictures" (political commentary in verse), "Al Rakim" (a short prose piece), and "The Possum Hunt" (a longer narrative poem). The political verses mock Columbia's post-election state—referencing campaign debris and the aftermath of political struggle. The text criticizes political opponents ("No longer the country will bleed on the streets") and satirizes Democratic and Republican ward-strikers engaged in corrupt electoral practices. "Al Rakim" presents miscellaneous anecdotes about fortune, deception, and human nature—typical satirical filler content. "The Possum Hunt" is a lengthy narrative poem about a nighttime hunting expedition, likely allegorical commentary on pursuing elusive political targets or fortune, though the specific reference remains unclear from the text alone. Without visible illustrations, the exact targets of satire are difficult to identify with certainty.