Life — July 28, 1921 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cover illustrates a dog standing on a table at a dinner party, dressed in a checkered jacket and holding what appears to be a toy fish or similar object. The dog is anthropomorphized as a party guest, surrounded by chairs, place settings, and scattered items on the floor. The satire targets the behavior of social climbers or attention-seekers who disrupt gatherings to be noticed. By depicting an actual dog as "the life of the party," the cartoonist mocks people who act like animals—crude, self-centered, or inappropriately boisterous—while demanding attention at social events. The title plays on the common phrase describing someone who entertains a group, suggesting such behavior is actually bestial rather than charming.