The Wasp — 1890 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is primarily a **commercial advertisement**, not political satire. The page advertises F.C. Robbins & Co., a mercantile cash house in Winnemucca, Nevada, claiming to be the "Largest Mercantile Cash House in the State of Nevada." The main illustration shows a caricatured man (appearing to represent a struggling prospector or miner) being pulled by a donkey, with the caption "WE'VE GOT THE PULL." This is a visual pun suggesting the company has "pull" (influence/leverage) to help customers and miners obtain goods and services. The text emphasizes their general merchandise stock and specifically mentions the "Winnemucca Mining Situation," appealing to miners and prospectors seeking supplies and investment opportunities. The surrounding text invites capital investment and promises attention to business partnerships—this is a booster advertisement targeting entrepreneurs during Nevada's mining era.