Life — May 31, 1923 — page 25: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This appears to be a satirical illustration referencing the nautical legend of Davy Jones' Locker (a sailors' phrase for the ocean depths/death at sea). The image depicts what appears to be sea creatures or supernatural beings in turbulent water, with a boat and sailors above. The title "Davy Jones' Likker" is a pun—substituting "likker" (slang for liquor/alcohol) for "Locker." This suggests the cartoon satirizes either sailors' drinking habits or possibly alcohol-related regulations (Life magazine frequently carried Prohibition-era satire). The grotesque underwater imagery and chaotic composition emphasize the satirical tone, likely mocking maritime drinking culture or related social concerns of early 20th-century America.