The Wasp — 1890 — page 154: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts a domestic scene with a woman asking a man about Congressional business, while he appears dismissive or evasive. The dialogue suggests she's asking about political matters—specifically something about taking possession of property during Congressional proceedings. The satire appears to mock the disconnect between domestic life and politics: the woman's reasonable question goes unanswered or is deflected. The title "What Was the Use of Her Asking?" implies women's concerns about political/legislative matters are futile or unwelcome—a commentary on women's exclusion from political discourse and decision-making in the era. The joke reflects late-19th/early-20th-century attitudes about women's limited political voice and influence.