The Wasp — 1877 — page 253: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical page depicts four professions and how civil unrest would supposedly benefit them: 1. **A hoodlum/saloon keeper** - expects increased business during riots 2. **A lumberman** - anticipates profit from rebuilding houses destroyed in violence 3. **A capitalist or wealthy industrialist** - cynically hopes riots will enable him to suppress labor movements ("Let it begin, / Let Labor or Capital win... / I know that I'll gather them in!") 4. **A newspaper man** - recognizes riots sell papers, stating "If they riot like—well— / Then my paper will sell" The cartoon satirizes how certain groups profit from social chaos and violence. It critiques the hypocrisy of those claiming neutrality while actually benefiting from—or even encouraging—civil unrest. The piece suggests capitalism and media exploitation thrive during social upheaval.