Life — June 19, 1890 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Life Magazine Page, June 19, 1890 This page from Life magazine (Volume XV, Number 390) contains a classroom scene cartoon titled "CORRECT." The joke presents a teacher asking students: "WHO WAS MOST CONCERNED WHEN ABSALOM GOT HUNG BY THE HAIR?" A student named Tommy answers: "HIS MOTHER." This is a humorous biblical reference to the Old Testament story of Absalom (2 Samuel 18), King David's rebellious son who died when his hair caught in a tree during battle. The joke's humor relies on the obvious answer—a mother would naturally be most concerned about her son's death—presenting this as a "correct" but absurdly literal-minded schoolroom response to what might have been intended as a more theological or dramatic question. The ornamental left margin contains decorative period advertisements typical of Life's format.