The Wasp — 1879 — page 784: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a narrative poem with illustrations about a soldier named Byng who rides a poor, worn-out horse. The story mocks military incompetence: Byng is an ineffective rider and drill participant who only shows up for social occasions. When he attempts to fix his saddle with glue before a ride, the poorly maintained horse collapses mid-journey. The satire criticizes both Byng's incompetence as a trooper and the "bold bad boys" (apparently ruffians who harass him). The poem's moral warns that "a moment more may see you buried / Ten feet up in the air"—suggesting that overconfidence and poor preparation lead to disaster. The illustrations depict Byng's mishaps with slapstick humor typical of Victorian satirical magazines.