The Wasp — 1889 — page 211: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon from *The Wasp* depicts a customs inspection scene mocking immigration and ethnic stereotyping. A New York Customs Officer examines a man in elaborate Spanish dress—complete with ornate jacket and decorative accessories—whose papers identify him as a "Spaniard." The joke plays on the officer's acceptance: the man's appearance matches the paperwork, so he's admitted without question, despite the implication that he may not actually be Spanish. The cartoon likely satirizes either: 1. Lax customs enforcement and fraudulent documentation, or 2. Ethnic disguise and assimilation practices to circumvent immigration restrictions The exaggerated caricature styling suggests commentary on how unreliable visual identification and paperwork were for verifying immigrants' true origins during this era.