The Wasp — 1881 — page 135: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page consists primarily of three sections: **Fashion Notes** (left column with illustration), **Literature** (right column), and a central article about **"J. Gould—Philanthropist."** The main cartoon depicts a rotund gentleman in formal dress being fitted or adjusted by what appears to be a tailor or valet. Based on the "J. Gould—Philanthropist" headline, this likely caricatures **Jay Gould**, the wealthy railroad magnate. The satire is biting: the article ironically praises Gould's "philanthropy" while describing his ruthless business practices—manipulating markets, exploiting workers, and prioritizing profit over welfare. The cartoon's exaggerated physique emphasizes his wealth and excess. The piece mocks the contradiction between Gould's modest charitable reputation and his actual predatory capitalism, a common Gilded Age critique.