I don’t know why, but I blame the French for this. The back of the photo has no information, no explanation. This picture just . . . exists, bereft of meaning or commentary. Perhaps the circus was in town; perhaps an extraordinary dog who'd learned to stand erect, master the arts of cookery and deliver groceries wandered into the office, and they snapped a shot. The photographer ran to get a reporter, but when they returned the miraculous dog was gone. From then on all the newspapermen who had dogs of their own never looked at their Rover the same again.

Or, the circus was in town.

A French circus.