The Wasp — 1894 — page 69: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a military officer speaking to Miss Summergirl about "Charlie" (likely a soldier). The humor relies on gender and military protocol: Miss Summergirl wants to warn her intended, George Butler, about danger, but the officer insists military rules forbid discussing "sentries" with civilians—so he'll "do the talking" instead. The satire appears to mock overly rigid military censorship and bureaucratic secrecy, particularly regarding information about troop movements or military matters. The "considerate friend" ironically offers to relay messages while actually maintaining secrecy protocols. The cartoon likely reflects WWI-era tensions between civilian concerns and strict military information control. The page also contains period advertisements for champagne, clothing, and tailoring services.