Life — November 5, 1903 — page 18: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This appears to be a satirical illustration titled "Ghost of the Puritan," referencing the historical Puritan settlement at Plymouth (invoking Priscilla Mullins, a Mayflower passenger). The image shows a supernatural figure on horseback, seemingly disapproving of something below—likely representing how modern America has departed from strict Puritan moral values. The incomplete OCR text suggests commentary on contemporary social behavior that would shock the original Puritans. Without the full caption, the exact target of satire is unclear, but Life magazine frequently used this device—invoking America's founding religious principles to critique current permissiveness in entertainment, fashion, or social conduct during the early-to-mid 20th century. The ghostly Puritan serves as a moral authority figure, implicitly judging modern society's choices.