The Wasp — 1880 — page 15: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a chaotic scene with two horses pulling a carriage containing figures labeled with banners that appear to read "SCIENCE" and "COMMERCE." A monkey sits atop the carriage wielding what looks like a conductor's baton, while a well-dressed man in a top hat stands nearby. On the right, a female figure holds a staff. The satire appears to critique how **irrational forces (represented by the monkey) control progress and commerce**, with legitimate pursuits of science and business being directed chaotically rather than rationally. The handwritten text at the top is partially illegible but suggests a specific political commentary. Without clearer identification of the specific figures or publication date, the precise target remains unclear, though it likely mocks mismanagement of institutions or societal priorities in late 19th-century America.