The Wasp — 1893 — page 228: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page satirizes religious reformers, likely from the late 1800s. The left section shows **Rev. Meeker** (labeled "the great reformer") attempting to "pound each other in that manner" during what appears to be a moral crusade. The caricatures suggest his reform efforts backfire into violence and chaos. The right section, "At a Harbor View Picnic," depicts **Sluggsy and Puggsy** in a domestic dispute about factory work and a woman's fidelity, suggesting that real social problems persist despite reformers' efforts. The bottom section shows Rev. Meeker fighting demons, captioned "Go it, oh untamed demons; and may the best man win." The overall message mocks the ineffectiveness of moral reformation when social realities—poverty, infidelity, violence—remain unchanged.