The Wasp — 1895 — page 610: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This illustration depicts a couple on a bicycle built for two. The woman wears 1890s fashionable dress with prominent "leg of mutton" sleeves; the man sits behind in a captain's hat and dark suit. The caption's dialogue suggests Jack is testing whether Daisy's clothing—specifically her elastic bloomers or undergarments—will hold secure while riding the tandem bike. The humor plays on anxieties about the "New Woman" of the 1890s: women cycling in bloomers (rather than restrictive skirts) was considered scandalous and immodest. The cartoon mocks both the fashion and the romantic/physical comedy of shared bicycle riding. The title "Faith in Her Elastics" puns on both literal elastic garments and trust in the relationship during this daring activity.