Life — December 31, 1891 — page 48: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is not a political cartoon or satirical content—it's **a commercial advertisement** for John H. Pray Sons & Co., a Boston carpet and upholstery business located at 646-658 Washington Street (with offices opposite Boylston Street). The image is an architectural illustration showing a five-story commercial building with street-level storefronts and awnings. The accompanying text emphasizes the business's impressive floor space: 300 feet deep with 20,000 square feet per floor, highlighting the company's substantial retail operation. This appears in *Life* magazine as a paid advertisement showcasing the company's prominent downtown Boston location and scale of operations—typical promotional material for major 19th or early 20th-century retail establishments.