The contrast between the two eras is clever and effective, and, with the Great Depression still chugging along at the time of the story's first publication, contemporary readers suffering that debacle's effects would have had no trouble working up a good two-minute hate for the too-comfortable Contents.

[…] Dr. Grant had brought on apoplexy and death, by three great institutionary dinners in one week, […]

For now the mastives, charging home, / To blows and handygripes were come:

Hey, pops, I'm home.