The Wasp — 1877 — page 167: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical sketch depicts three well-dressed visitors in a cobbler's shop at night, confronting the cobbler about his criticisms of "the Eastern fight" and "Masonic chiefs and Masonic rulers." The cartoon mocks wealthy war critics—appearing to be journalists, politicians, or society figures—who complain about military conduct and leadership from comfortable positions. The cobbler, a working-class tradesman, has apparently been vocal about corruption or mismanagement in the war effort. The satire suggests these "visitors" are intimidating or pressuring the cobbler to silence his criticism, implying that speaking out against powerful wartime interests (possibly Masonic-connected leadership) is dangerous and unwelcome among the elite. The cartoon criticizes both the suppression of dissent and the hypocrisy of armchair war critics.