The Wasp — 1879 — page 323: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon from *The Wasp* depicts what appears to be a social commentary on poverty and class indifference. The scene shows four figures of apparent wealth or authority (identifiable by top hats and formal dress) standing around a barrel or container, seemingly indifferent to or possibly exploiting a struggling woman holding a child. Tools scattered on the ground suggest labor or construction. The title "An Old, Old Story" indicates this represents a recurring social problem rather than a specific event—likely depicting the persistent suffering of poor mothers and children amid urban inequality, contrasted with the callousness of the wealthy and powerful. The cartoon critiques class disparity and the normalized neglect of the impoverished in American society.