The Wasp — 1889 — page 386: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This *Wasp* cartoon from December 7, 1889, satirizes financial speculation, likely referencing the contemporary "gold bug" debate—a term for those obsessed with the gold standard and gold speculation during the late 19th century's monetary controversies. The illustration shows three figures around a large soup pot, appearing to stir or fish in it, with a goblin-like creature emerging from the pot. The cartoon suggests that gold-obsessed speculators are creating chaos and disorder in the economy (represented by the soup—suggesting a mess or muddled situation). The grotesque figure in the pot likely represents the consequences of reckless financial speculation or the destabilizing effects of gold-driven monetary policy on ordinary people's economic security.