The Wasp — November 8, 1879 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Lie of Politeness and Vulgarity of Truth" This page is primarily an essay rather than a cartoon, occupying the full page with dense text. The piece argues that politeness is fundamentally dishonest—a mask obscuring reality. The author contends that society values artificial courtesy over truth-telling, creating a false veneer of civilization. The essay includes several period anecdotes mocking excessive politeness: euphemistic phrases used to avoid blunt speech, the absurdity of formal courtesies, and examples of how politeness enables deception. The satirical tone suggests *The Wasp* is criticizing Victorian social conventions as hypocritical and suffocating. The piece advocates for honest directness over refined artificiality, positioning this as a challenge to established social norms of the era.