The Wasp — 1881 — page 345: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon satirizes what appears to be a government official or wealthy patron (labeled "Perkins") feeding money to elephants displayed in a circus-like setting marked "Extra Session." The man in formal dress hand-feeds coins to the animals while a female figure (possibly representing the public or a specific political constituency) holds out a bowl labeled "Bonds" or similar financial instruments. The satire likely critiques wasteful government spending during a special legislative session, with the elephants representing either the Republican Party (the elephant was their symbol) or specific politicians being treated as pampered pets fed taxpayer money. The "Extra Session" reference suggests an costly special congressional session called to address some issue.