The Wasp — 1881 — page 305: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a classical allegorical figure (representing "Public Right," as labeled on the horse's bridle) as a warrior-saint vanquishing serpentine creatures below. The composition references the St. George legend—good triumphing over evil. The figures beneath appear to be political opponents or corrupt interests being defeated. The serpents likely represent specific threats to public welfare, though without additional context identifying the particular figures, I cannot definitively name them. The satire suggests that public rights and democratic principles are heroically combating corruption or malevolent forces. The classical, mythological framing elevates this political struggle to moral and timeless significance, typical of *The Wasp's* style of sharply critical social commentary.