The Wasp — June 12, 1880 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# The Illustrated Wasp Page Analysis This page contains two distinct pieces: **Left side**: A brief legal notice about a dismissed case involving Mr. Louderback's proposition and property rights—appears to be satirizing a local business or legal dispute, though specific context is unclear. **Main article**: "The Government or Worship of the Rat" presents a philosophical comparison between rat and human behavior. The author argues that rats possess intelligence, trainability, and loyalty comparable to humans, and questions whether humans truly deserve their elevated status. The piece uses the rat as a vehicle for social commentary on human civilization and morality. **Illustration**: A detailed engraving of a rat appears mid-text, likely emphasizing the article's point about animal dignity. The satire targets Victorian-era assumptions about human superiority and civilization's claims to moral authority—a common Wasp theme questioning established social hierarchies.