The Wasp — 1879 — page 92: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily **educational/nature writing**, not political satire. The article discusses California's redwood trees, their characteristics, and practical uses—particularly for lumber and construction. The accompanying illustrations show: redwoods in their natural habitat, workers felling and processing a massive tree, salmon (referenced in text comparing the Redwood to salmon taxonomy), and detailed images of how redwoods are split using wedges. The opening quotation about "tempering the wind to the shorn lamb" frames the piece as a gentle exploration of natural resources. The text emphasizes the redwood's durability and utility for building, with anecdotes about felling operations in early Mendocino County. **This is descriptive natural history, not satire.**