The Wasp — 1878 — page 334: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts what appears to be a diplomatic or state visit, showing a distinguished horseman (likely representing Bulgaria or its leader) being received by American officials and common citizens in Washington D.C. The cartoon's title suggests satire about Bulgaria's entry into American political or diplomatic spheres. The ornate horse and formal regalia contrast with the crowd's casual, somewhat chaotic reception below—suggesting either mockery of the visitor's pretensions or American irreverence toward foreign dignitaries. The figures on the ship above wave flags, indicating official state ceremony, while ground-level figures appear less formal, possibly satirizing the gap between diplomatic protocol and American democratic informality. Without publication date context from *The Wasp*, the specific political situation referenced remains unclear, though it likely comments on contemporary U.S.-Bulgaria relations.