The Wasp — 1914 — page 125: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page presents dialogue from what appears to be a Victorian-era narrative involving class and reputation concerns. A character named Stanton confronts Mrs. Black about a woman named Kitty's past. The revelation centers on Kitty's father being a tailor in Wantage and her acquaintance with James Burnham, described as "a son of Sir Walter Burnham, of Burnham." The satire targets social anxiety about class boundaries and scandal. Mrs. Black fears exposure of Kitty's working-class origins, while Stanton dismisses the concern, asserting that Burnham will keep the connection secret. The humor lies in the exaggerated Victorian preoccupation with maintaining respectability and the assumption that gentlemen naturally conspire to protect social secrets. Without seeing illustrations, the specific caricatures remain unclear.