The Wasp — 1890 — page 177: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes a conversation between two characters, apparently about Presidential wages. The dialogue shows one figure (labeled "Mr. Pettigrew") refusing to raise wages for his employee, threatening instead to "alter his health" and "fix him." The other character responds with resignation about meager compensation. The satire targets labor disputes and economic exploitation—likely referencing broader American debates about workers' rights and fair wages during this period. The title "One Way of Putting It" suggests the cartoon is mocking euphemistic or threatening language employers used when denying workers' requests for better pay. The crude, threatening tone of the dialogue emphasizes the power imbalance and coercive nature of labor relations being criticized.