The Wasp — December 6, 1879 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Zidon and Tyre as Seen by the Wasp, from Reindeer to Camel" This satirical illustration compares ancient biblical cities (Zidon and Tyre) to contemporary San Francisco. The engraving shows historical scenes of these Phoenician trading centers alongside Victorian-era imagery. The accompanying text critiques San Francisco's urban decay and destruction following (likely) the 1906 earthquake and fire. The author uses the biblical parallel to argue that the city's former prosperity—built on commerce and industry—has been obliterated as thoroughly as the ancient cities were by conquest. The "Reindeer to Camel" subtitle suggests a contrast between different modes of transportation and civilization levels, possibly mocking San Francisco's reduced circumstances or pretensions to grandeur despite its devastation.