The Wasp — 1879 — page 684: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical cartoon from San Francisco's *The Wasp* magazine depicting a tug-of-war over money. Two well-dressed men in top hats pull a money bag (marked with dollar signs) between them, while the Nevada Bank building collapses in the background. The caption reads: "Both well backed—let the purse pursue its course." The cartoon appears to satirize a financial conflict between two wealthy individuals or institutions competing for control of Nevada Bank's funds. The "well backed" phrase suggests both parties have powerful supporters. The collapsing building symbolizes the destructive consequences of their struggle for money and power—the bank itself becomes a casualty of their competition. This likely references a specific 1880 San Francisco financial scandal or banking dispute.