The Wasp — 1889 — page 202: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains several satirical pieces rather than a single cartoon. The visible illustration depicts what appears to be a frontier court scene, accompanying "Running a Court on Business Principles"—a story mocking informal frontier justice where a makeshift judge arbitrarily rules on disputes. Other text sections include "Settled His Bill" (about a man named Ben refusing to pay a newspaper debt), "Didn't Want Him" (dialogue between Willie and his mother about an unwanted visitor), "Colorado Cure" (a conversation about someone's medical treatment), and "A Difference of Opinion" (brief commentary on condemned prisoners). The satire targets frontier lawlessness, debt avoidance, and social attitudes of the American West. The overall tone is comedic critique of uncivilized behavior and irregular legal proceedings.