Life — May 9, 1889 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Life Magazine, May 9, 1889 This page features a satirical cartoon titled "Association" depicting a mythological or allegorical boat scene. The caption presents a dialogue: Charon (the ferryman of the dead in Greek mythology) awakens an "absent-minded Old Soul," who upon seeing Jersey City already expresses dismay—"Bless me! Jersey City already?" The joke appears to satirize Jersey City as such an undesirable destination that even the dead would be distressed to arrive there. The cartoon uses classical mythology ironically; rather than Charon ferrying souls to the underworld, he's taking passengers to Jersey City, implying the city is hellish or deeply unpleasant. This reflects late-19th-century regional American humor, where cross-river rivals like Jersey City and New York exchanged mutual mockery in satirical publications.