The Wasp — 1894 — page 104: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon illustrates a domestic dispute between two couples. The scene depicts a woman (Clarissa) confronting her friend Ethel about a man (Harry) she brought to her feet—likely a flirtation or romantic advance. The dialogue reveals gossip: Clarissa warns Ethel not to let Harry "see them or you won't have him long," implying he's a philanderer. The second vignette shows a man (B) asking his wife (She) about kissing, to which she replies sarcastically: "You are, George. In every other instance I did the kissing myself." This mocks marital dynamics where the wife controls physical affection. Both sketches satirize turn-of-the-century courtship and marriage conventions, portraying women as strategically managing male behavior and attention.