The Wasp — 1890 — page 95: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page satirizes frontier military life and colonial Indian campaigns. The main illustration shows two military figures (labeled "First Marker" and "Second Marker") at an Oakland postoffice, discussing messages and supply delivery to frontier forces. The accompanying prose narrative mocks the treatment of rattlesnake bites in remote military camps—describing absurd "remedies" involving whiskey, pearls in vinegar, and other folkish cures. The satire targets both the incompetence of frontier medicine and the casual attitude toward soldiers' welfare. The related poem "A Code of Morals" appears to satirize military conduct during colonial campaigns, referencing "General Bangs" and border conflicts, suggesting corruption or moral compromise in frontier military operations. The overall tone ridicules inadequate military logistics and questionable frontier practices.