The Wasp — 1894 — page 455: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The cartoon depicts two figures in what appears to be a social or romantic encounter. The caption "INNOCENT YET GUILTY" suggests ironic commentary on moral hypocrisy or false appearances. The accompanying text features a dialogue between "Cholly" and "Miss Castigue," discussing whether Cholly would accuse someone of having "an idea." Miss Castigue denies moral courage to do otherwise, implying social pretense or constraint. The specific identities of these figures remain unclear from the image alone. The satire appears to target Victorian-era social conventions—how respectable people maintain outward innocence while harboring less virtuous thoughts or actions. This was common Wasp magazine fare, mocking the gap between public propriety and private behavior in San Francisco society. The exact reference cannot be confirmed without additional historical context.