The Wasp — 1890 — page 168: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes the notorious "Blythe Case," a legal scandal of the era. Three well-dressed men huddle around a large coffee pot labeled "Hotel Coffee," appearing agitated and conspiratorial. The title's pun on "coffee(ey)" suggests the case involved someone named Blythe or a defendant nicknamed "Coffee." The satire implies that the men—likely lawyers or officials involved in the case—are being driven to strange behavior by involvement with this controversial litigation. The coffee pot, prominently featured, suggests either that coffee fueled their bizarre conduct, or the case itself was absurd enough to seem caffeine-induced. Without identifying the specific individuals, the cartoon mocks legal or political figures caught in a dubious proceeding.