The Wasp — November 29, 1879 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of The Illustrated Wasp, Page 291 This page features a portrait of **Louis Favre**, a Swiss engineer and construction pioneer. The accompanying text celebrates him as a "modern Stevenson" (referencing engineering achievement). The article praises Favre's major accomplishment: engineering the **St. Gotthard tunnel through the Alps**—described as a massive ten-mile undertaking through the mountains. The text emphasizes his humble origins as a carpenter's son and his rise to prominence through talent and perseverance. The page also contains brief notes on **King Alfonso XII of Spain**, described as young and about to marry. Rather than satirical, this appears to be celebratory journalism highlighting contemporary engineering achievement and international notable figures for an American audience.