The Wasp — 1877 — page 55: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains two satirical engravings from a 19th-century American humor magazine. The **upper illustration** titled "The Palisades on the C.P.R." depicts a steam locomotive traversing dramatic cliff formations. This likely mocks the Central Pacific Railroad's construction challenges or engineering claims through the American West. The **lower illustration**, captioned "Herding Horses in Southern California," shows mounted riders managing wild horses on open terrain. This appears to satirize California ranching culture or labor practices of the era. Without additional context or bylines visible, the specific satirical targets remain unclear—whether these mock railroad expansion, labor conditions, or regional stereotypes about the American frontier. The engraving style is typical of 1870s-80s satirical journalism.