The Wasp — 1896 — page 130: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical illustration from *The Wasp*, "The Illustrated Weekly of the Pacific Coast," circa 1896. The cartoon depicts a gentleman and woman in formal Victorian dress having a conversation, with the caption quoting from *"Old Maid's Diary"*: a man asking a lady "'Do you wear bloomers?'" is compared to asking about her health or rainy weather. The satire targets Victorian social propriety and changing gender norms. "Bloomers"—a controversial women's garment allowing greater mobility—represented the emerging women's rights movement. The cartoon's title, "Our Moral Decadence," ironically suggests that merely *discussing* such practical clothing constitutes moral decline, mocking rigid Victorian sensibilities about what topics were considered appropriate conversation between unmarried people.