The Wasp — 1894 — page 192: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts **Ben Popper**, a statesman, having a nightmare while sleeping at Headquarters. The dream shows him surrounded by ghostly figures labeled with names like **Cimmins, Kelly, Chris, and Max**—apparently anarchists or socialists ("echoes came of socialistic jars"). In the dream, these figures torment Popper, representing his anxieties about radical political movements. The cartoon mocks Popper by suggesting his fears are overwrought fantasies rather than real threats. The accompanying poem reinforces this satire, describing how Popper "slumbered" while troubled by "dire visions never seen before." The overall point appears to be ridicule of conservative politicians who exaggerate dangers from leftist movements, portraying their fears as paranoid delusions rather than legitimate concerns.