The Wasp — 1881 — page 170: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This 1881 *Wasp* cartoon depicts a bearded man in tattered clothes labeled "PAUPER" on his leg, holding a small demon-like figure and a begging cup. The title "Our National Pauper" suggests the cartoon criticizes American poverty or economic inequality of the Gilded Age. The figure appears to represent the United States itself or American working class suffering despite national wealth. The demon he holds likely symbolizes a destructive force—possibly corruption, monopolies, or mismanagement by the wealthy/political elite. Papers visible in the background may reference financial scandals or policy failures. The satire argues that America, despite its resources and potential, has become impoverished through poor leadership or systemic exploitation. The cartoon reflects 1880s anxieties about labor conditions and wealth distribution during rapid industrialization.