The Wasp — 1893 — page 294: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon illustrates a humorous narrative about Mr. Trentham, who has taught his dog to steal handkerchiefs from passersby. The satirical point appears to target affluent or eccentric individuals engaging in frivolous, anti-social behavior disguised as entertainment or sport. The sketch shows a well-dressed man directing a small dog to pickpocket a handkerchief from an unsuspecting victim's back pocket. The accompanying text indicates this is "one day he grew interested in the game his faithful animal—" suggesting the man finds amusement in petty theft. The satire likely critiques both the leisure class's questionable pastimes and the absurdity of training animals for mischievous purposes. This appears to be part of a serialized satirical story, as indicated by "No. 1" in the title.