The Wasp — 1887 — page 472: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is **not a political cartoon** but rather **promotional advertising** for Redondo Beach, California. The large engraving titled "The Gem of the Continent" depicts an elaborate beachfront hotel complex with towers and Victorian architecture. The text describes Redondo Beach's development as a seaside resort sixteen miles southwest of Los Angeles, highlighting features like: - Hotel La Morada - An iron pier (costing over $100,000) - Chautauqua Assembly grounds - Natural amenities: ocean frontage, salt spring lake, fertile soil The "Outlook" section predicts Redondo Beach's future importance as both a pleasure resort and commercial port, emphasizing its "remarkable place" combining business with leisure. This appears to be a **booster advertisement**, common in late 19th/early 20th-century publications, promoting California real estate development.