The Wasp — 1895 — page 761: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts a domestic scene titled "His Failure," showing a man and woman in what appears to be a tense conversation. The accompanying dialogue suggests the man has failed to solve some mystery or problem—he claims he "dropped one of [his] hunks" (possibly meaning clues or leads), while the woman appears skeptical or disappointed. The satire appears to target male incompetence or broken promises in domestic matters, likely reflecting late-19th-century anxieties about gender roles and masculine authority. The woman's posture suggests skepticism toward his excuses. Without additional context from *The Wasp's* editorial stance, the specific scandal or incident being referenced remains unclear, though it likely referenced a contemporary event familiar to 1895 San Francisco readers.