The Wasp — 1881 — page 97: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a preserve or exclusive garden with clear class restrictions. The sign reads "No Traders, Merchants, Manufacturers or other Troublesome Persons Admitted" — mocking elite spaces that excluded working and commercial classes. The crossing barriers labeled "No Thoroughfare," "Freight," and "Fares" suggest transportation or commercial restrictions. Small figures (appearing to be workers or common people) are depicted outside the barrier, attempting entry or observing from below, while demonic or grotesque figures loom above — possibly representing wealthy gatekeepers or exploitative forces. The overall satire critiques how the privileged class monopolizes certain spaces and resources while blocking access to ordinary working people, likely reflecting late 19th-century tensions between labor and capital in America.