Life — September 25, 1919 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Hero Worship" Analysis This illustration accompanies a humorous story about a dog named Stocky. The cartoon depicts a man in formal attire viewing what appears to be a portrait or mirror image of himself in an ornate frame. The caption "HERO WORSHIP" suggests ironic commentary on self-admiration or vanity. The accompanying text describes Stocky's misadventures—escaping a farmer, causing chaos in town, and being rescued by the Fire Department. The story culminates when the dog's owner casually remarks he'll eventually train Stocky to demonstrate his true capabilities, revealing the owner's overconfidence in his own abilities to control the unruly dog. The illustration likely satirizes this same self-deluding vanity, showing a man admiring an idealized version of himself while remaining oblivious to reality—much like Stocky's owner's misplaced confidence.