The Wasp — 1896 — page 153: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The cartoon depicts an elderly woman (labeled "Old Lady") refusing a young man's offer to help her cross the street. She says she won't wait for "any of the Yorke-Werthe controversy to-day," preferring to cross alone rather than accept his assistance. This references a contemporary scandal or public dispute involving figures named Yorke and Werthe (exact identities unclear from this page alone). The satire mocks how a minor social controversy has become so consuming that even ordinary courtesies are affected by people taking sides. The cartoon's humor lies in the absurdity: a woman would rather risk crossing the street unassisted than accept help from someone potentially associated with the "wrong" side of a public quarrel—illustrating how divisive social feuds penetrate everyday life.