The Wasp — 1890 — page 460: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The central cartoon depicts a woman in Victorian dress being inspected or evaluated by men in period clothing, likely representing a scenario of social scrutiny or judgment of women. The title "Will She Pass Muster?" suggests examination of a woman's worthiness or acceptability—possibly commenting on marriage prospects, social standing, or female respectability standards of the era. The surrounding text discusses various society figures and their movements, including Senator Stanford and others. The cartoon likely satirizes how women were publicly judged and assessed by male-dominated social hierarchies. The phrase "pass muster" (military approval terminology) being applied to a woman appears intentionally ironic, mocking rigid social gatekeeping of the Victorian period.