The Wasp — 1878 — page 295: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

**Main Content:** This page is primarily textual rather than cartoon-heavy. The masthead shows *The Wasp* logo with decorative figures. **Key Article: "Our Greatness in Crookedness"** The piece satirizes corruption in the U.S. Civil Service, arguing that the government deliberately appoints incompetent or dishonest officials to reward political party loyalists. It criticizes the assumption that government positions should serve as patronage sinecures rather than merit-based roles. **Secondary Article: "The Ways of Erudition"** This attacks the "Education Department," sarcastically praising how it wastes public money through incompetence and mismanagement of teacher salaries and school resources. **Tone:** Scathing critique of Republican administration corruption and government inefficiency, typical of *The Wasp's* muckraking satirical approach.