Life — October 20, 1921 — page 23: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a humorous illustrated essay presenting a Boston Terrier's philosophical musings about life. The dog expresses snobbish preferences: dislike of beans, disgust at codfish, and modest appreciation for literature and art. The satire targets pretentious Boston society—the "Back Bay" reference evokes that wealthy, cultured neighborhood. The joke is that this dog claims cosmopolitan tastes while also contentedly accepting simple pleasures (a Wichita barber-shop), and enjoys reading newspapers. The cartoon anthropomorphizes the terrier to mock human affectation and class consciousness, suggesting Boston's elite aren't much more refined than a dog, despite their pretensions. The breed itself—a Boston Terrier—adds to the local humor.