The Wasp — 1894 — page 190: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts a series of scenes showing a dog outsmarting humans in a duel. The captions suggest the dog is cleverer than its human opponent: one panel shows the dog "hitting" the man, while another includes dialogue: "How did you come to hit your opponent in that duel at Paris?" "Tried to miss him." The joke appears to mock both dueling (presenting it as absurd) and the supposed superiority of "intelligent" dogs over foolish humans. This reflects late-19th-century satirical skepticism about aristocratic honor culture and dueling practices. The series title suggests recurring comparisons between canine and human intelligence—a common comedic theme in period satire used to criticize human folly.