The Wasp — April 10, 1880 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of The Illustrated Wasp Page 599 This page contains satirical commentary and several sections rather than a single unified cartoon. The main illustration shows two well-dressed men in Victorian-era clothing having a conversation. The dialogue beneath—featuring "Moses," "Levy," "Osser," and "Choochem"—appears to be ethnic satire using Yiddish-inflected English, mocking Jewish characters and stereotypes common to 19th-century American humor. Below are various sections including "Court Notes," "Cowards who Fight Shadows," and commentary on political/social issues. The text discusses voting rights, immigrant populations arriving at Castle Garden, and criticism of various public figures and policies. The satire reflects period prejudices against Jewish immigrants and broader social anxieties about immigration and voting power—characteristic of American satirical magazines of this era.