The Wasp — 1877 — page 81: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

**The Cartoon:** The illustration shows a winged figure (labeled "TARTAR") in motion, carrying what appears to be correspondence or documents. The accompanying verse by Punch compares meeting "Tartar" with encountering one's "mutual ferocities," suggesting confrontation or conflict. **The Content:** This page is primarily **text-based satirical commentary** rather than political cartooning. The articles mock various contemporary social issues: railroad corruption, financial fraud, sexton scandals, and military incompetence. One piece satirizes a "ball-dog man" at the Morgue seeking identification, while another mocks ineffectual clergy. **The Satire:** The humor targets institutional failures—banks, churches, journalism—and incompetent public figures. Without specific names visible, the satire appears directed at general societal hypocrisies and corruption prevalent in the Gilded Age.