The Wasp — 1881 — page 177: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This appears to be a political cartoon from *The Wasp*, a satirical American magazine. The image shows a demonic or grotesque winged figure labeled "TECHNICAL TRICKERY" hovering over a hellish scene below. The ground depicts execution apparatus (a gallows on the left, what appears to be a guillotine-like structure on the right) surrounded by skeletal remains and destruction, with a cityscape visible in the distance. The title references "The Modern St. Peter," likely satirizing someone in power who controls entry to institutions or positions—comparing their methods to demonic "technical trickery" rather than legitimate authority. The satire suggests these methods involve violence, death, and deception. Without the full publication date or additional context, the specific target remains unclear, though it appears to criticize corrupt power and execution of justice.