Life — December 1, 1921 — page 24: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a six-panel comic strip featuring anthropomorphic bears (Dad Bear and young Elmer) who have received Peter Pan as a Christmas gift—apparently interpreting it as an actual child rather than the fictional character. The humor derives from the bears treating Peter Pan literally: they attempt to nurse him (he's "squawking" and hungry), consider keeping him as a pet, try to milk him, and debate where to hang his Christmas stocking. The final panel shows them deciding to simply put the book down and go home. The satire likely mocks overly literal-minded readers or parental confusion about children's literature. The dialect ("Can't yo' squeeze") and bear characters suggest this targets a broad audience unfamiliar with literary references. It's gentle, family-friendly humor playing on the disconnect between a famous storybook character and actual childcare.