Judge, 1900-08-04 · page 7 of 16
Judge — August 4, 1900 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the obsessive craze for golf that swept America in the early 1900s. The main feature traces how a skeptical man becomes completely consumed by the sport: he initially dismisses golf as silly "shinney," borrows clubs to prove he could do better, then gradually transforms into an obsessive golfer who neglects his business, spends lavishly on equipment, abandons his office, and reorganizes his entire life around the links. The term "golficide" suggests golf kills his former self and responsibilities. The supporting cartoons mock related social absurdities: a dentist misunderstanding pain extraction, a woman speaking "like a cow," and a newspaper man whose fiancée threatens to break their engagement if he publishes her poetry. The satire reflects genuine anxiety about golf's emergence as a time-consuming upper-class leisure activity that disrupted traditional work and family life.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE EVOLUTION OF A GOLFICIDE. the papers con- es at cerning “golf,” {ain alte cuiaty =] wonders what it is, A club is formed in his neighborhood, and he declines to join, alleging lack of time. One day heis induced to stroll on to the course L and watch. He TITLE Smcers at the “sport.” It is nothing but shinney. He in- wardly derides the awkwardness of the men who strike at the ball and miss it or tear up the ground, and knows he could do better. He carelessly accepts the loan of a proffered driver and proceeds to show his expertness. He has played base-ball, etc. This is ¢o0 easy. Ha, ha! WHAT HE WANTED. ** Do you extract teeth without pain?” . s, sit—pleasant as pulling wild-flowers, sir.” Mr. Jones—"' Then I'm afraid you wouldn't do, six teeth pulled. I'll have to recommend somebody else to her.” hee ui A BOVINE FLAVOR. * Oi belave in givin’ tit fer tat.” Mr. Hocan—"' Shure, Mrs, Grogan, ye talk loike a cow.” He doesn't do as he expected, but veils his chagrin. Does not wait many minutes ere he again essays. Next day he borrows some clubs and spends the afternoon with a friend on the links. Gets a driver, cleek and a pair of bicycle-pants. Joins the golf organization. Breaks his driver; loses two balls and his temper. Now is coming home only for luncheon, dinner and bed. Has bought another driver; also a lofter and a putter and a dozen balls. Has not been to his office for a week, save to open the early morning mail. Has acquired many strange terms. Lunches at the links. Has purchased a brassie, brassie nib- lic, mashie and golf-shoes. Bicycle-pants are not suitable; a costume for golf only is an absolute necessity. His wife remod- els her last year's hat. Baffy and mid-iron added to the list. Balls number forty-one. Remolded and drying, they festoon the sitting-room. Golf for breakfast, luncheon and dinner, and golf all night. Newest things in clubs eagerly snap- ped up. Balls by the barrel. Business sold. Cot- tage just off the links rented. He is a golficide. UTILIZING HIM, SHE has promised to marry a newspaper man ; But I heard it quite broadly hinted My mother-in-law is here on a visit and wants ‘That she'll break the engagement as soon as she can ‘When he gets all her poetry printed, CURRENT EVENTS. comicbooks.com