The Wasp — 1893 — page 372: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts well-dressed passengers at an Oakland ferry terminal. The caption quotes a "Thoughtful Mother-in-Law" boasting about affordability: she can now purchase one hundred ferry tickets for two and a half cents each, enabling daily visits to her son-in-law for six bits (75 cents) monthly. The satire targets the reduction of ferry fares, which—while economically beneficial—created an unintended consequence: it made frequent visits from in-laws affordable and therefore inevitable. The cartoon mocks how cost-saving measures can backfire socially, transforming a financial blessing into a domestic nuisance. The irritated expressions of the well-dressed travelers suggest the joke resonates with contemporary ferry commuters dreading increased passenger traffic and unwanted family intrusions.