The Wasp — 1881 — page 114: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains political commentary and social satire rather than a single cartoon. The main illustrated item is titled "STOCKS DOWS" (likely "STOCKS DOWN"), showing a man in a bowler hat at what appears to be a stock exchange or financial counter. The accompanying text references Mr. Spendthrift attempting to negotiate "a ten-cent loan on a bushel of Belcher"—apparently mocking financial speculation or someone's desperate financial straits. The illustration suggests commentary on market volatility and personal financial mismanagement during the Gilded Age. The page's articles discuss various reform issues including railroad commissions, boycotts in Ireland, and Grant's charitable reputation, reflecting typical 1881 progressive critique of institutional power and corruption.