The Wasp — 1892 — page 49: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical page contrasts how a wealthy "drudging business man" (center panel) claims "times are hard," while the surrounding vignettes show him living lavishly. The top panels depict him dining and socializing at leisure. The center shows him at his desk, presumably complaining about financial hardship. Surrounding panels reveal his actual lifestyle: vacationing at springs, enjoying beach leisure, boating, and indulging in entertainment with friends. The satire targets class hypocrisy—a rich businessman complaining of hardship while visibly enjoying luxury, presumably to justify avoiding taxes, wages, or charitable giving. The caption notes "other people seem to think differently," suggesting the public recognizes this contradiction. The cartoon mocks the wealthy's performative economic complaints during economically difficult times.