The Wasp — 1879 — page 259: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical engraving depicts figures being "boxed up" regarding the Salt River—a 19th-century political phrase meaning to be defeated or sent away in disgrace. The cartoon shows several bearded men packed into boxes labeled "SALT RIVER" and "SWINGED" (swung/defeated), with one figure emerging from a large coin marked "UNITED STATES." The satire appears to target political opponents or rivals being removed from power or influence. The "Round the Tree to Salt River" banner and packaging imagery suggest politicians being literally shipped away or boxed out of politics. Without clearer identification of specific figures or dates from *The Wasp*, the exact targets remain unclear, though this represents typical 19th-century American political mockery of electoral defeat or political disgrace.