Life — May 14, 1896 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Life Magazine, May 14, 1896 - Political Cartoon Analysis **"In Chicago" - The Sixth Pallbearer** This cartoon satirizes Chicago political figures attending a funeral. The undertaker (left) questions where "the sixth pallbearer" is, noting that one figure "is promising to the widow" — suggesting someone is both attending the funeral AND making potentially opportunistic promises to the deceased's widow simultaneously. The top decorative border features theatrical/musical imagery, possibly referencing entertainment or performance aspects of Chicago politics. The cartoon mocks corrupt or opportunistic Chicago political behavior circa 1896, though the specific individuals and funeral context remain unclear without additional historical documentation. The "sixth pallbearer" appears to be absent or unreliable—a metaphor for political untrustworthiness or hypocrisy during this era.