The Wasp — 1877 — page 205: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical page mocks contemporary anxieties about various conflicts and military threats. The cartoons depict: 1. **Texas conflict**: References a dispute in Texas requiring military action 2. **Sioux War**: Mocks concerns about fighting Native Americans 3. **Pig war**: Satirizes a minor dispute over swine, suggesting absurd reasons for conflict 4. **Heathen Chinese**: References anti-Chinese sentiment and potential war with China 5. **Reno butchers**: Depicts local controversy over meat prices and slaughter regulations 6. **Newspapers**: Criticizes press sensationalism in spreading war rumors 7. **Domestic disputes**: Shows how war-talk invades home life, with spouses quarreling The overall message: Americans obsess over potential wars while newspapers exaggerate threats, and this war-fever corrupts even civilian relationships. The satire targets both actual military conflicts and manufactured panic.