The Wasp — 1888 — page 483: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon from *The Wasp* magazine depicts a group of rough, working-class men gathered around a formally-dressed gentleman in a top hat and light suit. The contrast in appearance suggests class conflict. The title "Where to Begin" appears to critique labor organizing or socialist agitation targeting capitalists or wealthy industrialists. The well-dressed figure seems cornered or confronted by the group, who carry tools and wear work clothes. The two masked figures overhead (labeled "White Cap") likely reference the "White Cap" vigilante movement—nightriders who used violence against perceived enemies. The cartoon likely satirizes confusion about or opposition to labor activism, suggesting uncertainty about which wealthy targets to pursue first, or mocking the chaos of populist organizing efforts during the Gilded Age.