The Wasp — April 3, 1880 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Builders of the Tower of Babel—The Government to Follow" This political cartoon satirizes corruption and mismanagement in government construction projects. The title references the Biblical Tower of Babel, where workers spoke different languages and couldn't communicate, leading to chaos—here used as metaphor for governmental dysfunction. The image depicts multiple figures (likely politicians and bureaucrats) in a construction site, appearing to work at cross-purposes. One holds what appears to be architectural plans labeled "MURNSILS" (likely a misspelling in OCR). The scattered, disorganized scene suggests incompetence, waste, and lack of coordination in public works. *The Wasp* was a satirical publication known for attacking political corruption. Without clearer dates or specific labels, the exact scandal referenced remains unclear, though this appears to critique Gilded Age government inefficiency.