The Wasp — 1881 — page 91: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains two editorial illustrations and political commentary rather than traditional comics. The first cartoon depicts a figure labeled "S" (likely representing Stanford or Crocker, wealthy railroad magnates mentioned in the text) as a skeletal vampire or robber baron, symbolizing how these business titans allegedly sucked wealth from California through monopolistic practices—specifically railroads, land speculation, and political manipulation. The second cartoon shows Nevada as a "pocket borough," satirizing how the state's small population gave disproportionate political power to wealthy mining interests and their representatives in Washington. The "Stings" section below contains brief satirical quips mocking various figures and contemporary issues including Chinese immigration, railroad corruption, and political patronage—typical targets of this anti-establishment publication.