The Wasp — 1890 — page 183: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon proposes recreational facilities for overworked police officers during strike periods. Six panels show idealized leisure activities: a reading room, skating rink, police band performance, billiard room, what appears to be a Kingsbury venue, and a gymnasium. The accompanying text argues that during labor strikes, authorities should provide these amenities to keep police "off duty" and presumably content—a sarcastic suggestion implying police discontent drove strike action. The cartoon critiques labor tensions by sarcastically proposing comfort measures rather than addressing underlying grievances. The work likely references a specific police strike (possibly early 20th-century American labor unrest), though the exact date and event require additional context. The tone is ironic: the elaborate facilities mock both police complaints and management's unwillingness to address legitimate concerns.