The Wasp — 1879 — page 722: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains a detailed illustration of rats clustered on a branch, titled "IS IT KING OR IDOL?" The accompanying text discusses rats' behavior—their intelligence, capacity for organization, and tendency to worship or venerate something, even destructive instincts. While the specific political target isn't entirely clear from this excerpt, the satirical point appears to be **comparing human leadership or veneration to rat behavior**: questioning whether people follow a true "king" (legitimate authority) or merely an "idol" (false authority they've irrationally elevated). The text's emphasis on rats' collective behavior and blind devotion suggests social commentary on mass followership or misplaced reverence for leaders.