The Wasp — 1894 — page 79: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a man in formal attire (center-right) and a woman in dark clothing at what appears to be a fair or carnival. Behind them is a banner advertising "The Great Sallie Allah" - "Royal Dancer to His Majesty the Sultan of Turkey" - with "Only Free Performance Today" noted below. The cartoon's title, "There Are Moments When We Wish To Be Alone," suggests the couple finds themselves awkwardly positioned near this exotic attraction despite preferring privacy. The humor appears to stem from the tension between their dignified, formal appearance and their unwilling proximity to what the Wasp presents as lowbrow entertainment and questionable spectacle. The Ottoman reference and "exotic dancer" billing reflect period attitudes toward non-Western performers and entertainment venues.