The Wasp — 1890 — page 224: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon from *The Wasp* (March 29, 1890) depicts an elderly woman labeled "United Howes" (visible on her bag) holding a spiked military helmet (*Pickelhaube*), confronted by a small boy. The caption reads: "IT'S MY GRANDPAPA'S HAT! IT'S MINE, AND I CAN WEAR IT WITHOUT YOUR HELP." The cartoon appears to satirize German imperial militarism and expansionism. The elderly woman represents an established European power, while the boy likely represents a rising or aggressive nation claiming its own military authority. The German helmet symbolizes Prussian/German military dominance. The "without your help" phrase suggests conflict over independence in military or political matters—possibly referencing tensions over colonial interests or European power dynamics during this period.