The Wasp — 1892 — page 155: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains political commentary and satirical pieces from an American magazine. The top section discusses Hon. Charles O. Alexander, a Republican politician from California, praising his legislative record and executive ability. The middle cartoon, "Political Possibilities," depicts a figure (likely representing a political opponent) climbing a tree with branches labeled as different political positions or opportunities. The satire suggests politicians opportunistically pursue various positions. The bottom section, "A Darkey's Logic," presents a racist dialogue between a plantation owner and an enslaved person about climbing a tree and hiring labor—reflecting the magazine's offensive 19th-century attitudes toward Black Americans. The page demonstrates *The Wasp's* mix of partisan Republican promotion with crude racial stereotyping typical of that era's satirical journalism.