Judge — March 20, 1920 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of "Only the Punctual Deserve the Fare" This satirical cartoon criticizes railroad fare practices through a scene at a train station. Three well-dressed passengers stand on the platform, with the caption quoting: "that's the most ridiculous, farce-comedy railroad! Everything at sixes and sevens. Yes, all except the 9:05, which is at tens and elevens." The joke plays on the phrase "sixes and sevens" (meaning chaotic/disorganized) and "tens and elevens" (the price markup). The satire mocks railroad companies for their unreliable schedules and inconsistent service—everything runs late except when fares mysteriously increase. The title suggests that only punctual travelers deserve fair pricing, implying railroads penalize irregular customers while exploiting those dependent on their service.