The Wasp — 1896 — page 253: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a park bench scene where a young man (center) sits between a fashionably dressed woman and two older gentlemen standing behind. The caption indicates Mrs. Strongmind believes the young man is about to propose, while Mr. Strongmind dismissively asks if the fellow has no friends to interfere. The joke targets the social anxieties of courtship in the era: the intrusive nature of concerned relatives and friends who insert themselves into romantic matters. The woman's elaborate dress and the men's formal attire suggest middle-class social pretensions. The bicycle visible on the right places this in the late 19th century when cycling was becoming a popular courtship venue. The humor lies in the assumption that a young man needs "advice" (interference) when attempting romance.