The Wasp — 1891 — page 278: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains satirical commentary on contemporary issues circa 1910s America: **Top cartoon** depicts a street contractor negotiating with a partner about macadamizing (paving) streets. The joke concerns salary inflation: a contractor wants $30,000 to handle stone work—triple another's $20,000 offer—exploiting post-war labor scarcity. **Main text sections** satirize: - **William Waldorf Astor's departure**: Mocking his decision to become English, suggesting American social climbers lack genuine aristocratic standing - **McKinley bill controversy**: Criticizing Democratic revenue policies as fiscally irresponsible - **Chicago construction**: Joking about a proposed 60-foot building as absurdly tall **Bottom cartoon** shows "Herr Vogelstanz" (a German character type) entering a saloon—likely satirizing German-American social dynamics during WWI tensions. The overall tone reflects post-war American anxieties about wealth, labor costs, and immigrant communities.