Judge, 1925-06-27 · page 12 of 37
Judge — June 27, 1925 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Explanation for Modern Readers This page from *Judge* magazine contains a satirical column mimicking the broken English of a Japanese golf caddie writing letters home to Tokyo. The piece parodies both working-class immigrant speech patterns and wealthy American golfers' pretension and vulgarity during Prohibition era (pre-Volstead motif mentioned). The caddie observes that American golfers use golf jargon to seem sophisticated while wearing undignified short pants and swearing excessively. The satire targets American materialism and class anxiety—businessmen ("butter and egg" types) obsessed with displaying wealth through country club membership. The accompanying sketch shows party guests in formal wear dancing, captioned "Say! Replace the divets!"—a crude pun mocking refined society's ignorance of golf etiquette. The column is credited to Arthur L. Lippmann and presented as homage to Wallace Irwin, who popularized broken-English immigrant humor in early 20th-century American publications.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Letters of a Japanese Caddie With Due Deference to Wallace Irwin 'o Honoraste Tokio Golf Pub. with which are amalgamated etc. retaining worst feature of both: In respectable occupation Ameri- can caddie I accumulate much un- sanitary lucre and swear words. Diplomatic course is best on Ameri- can golf course. The Hon. Mister Babbitt, butter and egg big business man graduated T.B.M. emit prodi- gious prof which tingle delicate cars this boy, who gaze at birdies and say “mum.” American golf are game with niblick, driver, mashie, putter et al, to wit. American man wear short pants allce samee leetle boy which expose legs sometimes unanimous and also penal offense to show. Golf club cost much money to join first and upkeep very much like “Say! used auto, always imperative keep spend more jack. Golf talk are very indifferent, slice and hook and duffer everybody talk now like this vein in America from Pres. down to shipping clerk. American man what impervious to golf lingo socially excommunicate. Eighteenth hole whole course and locker-rooms pre-Volstead motif decoration predominate after match. Sometimes man play golf with wife and swear like hell, but caddie wise adumbrate, “Mrs. Butter and Egg play good game,” and Mr. B. & E. look me daggers, but lady boss shell out two bucks, and Jap. boy buy hair grease like bond salesmen. course Hoping you are the same, With retaliation, H. Toco, Favorite Caddie, U. S. Golf Clubs. Arthur L. Lippmann i | | CUTE (GODS Replace the divots!”” This has been a very dull week along the High Hat Front. Every- thing is so quiet you could hear a cocktail tray falling. Everybody seems to be going to Europe. “Meet you at the Ritz” means Paris now instead of New Yor! coed The Theater Guild's “Garrick Gaieties” opened last week and it's ariot! Flo Ziegfeld ought to spend at least three nights a week down there. It might cure him of his “Millions for Production but not ene cent for ideas!” motto. The music is good too. You'll find two numbers, “April Fool” and “Roman- tic You and Sentimental Me” in the “Six Best Steppers” (Pardon us, Mons. Nathan, for turning Dra- matic Critic!) > Don Stewart has written a new book called “The Crazy Fool.” It’s the funniest. thing he has written since his “Outline of His- tory.” — The Six Best “Steppers.” “April Fool.” Romantic You and Sentimental » Sir! She’s My Baby.” “Ukulele Lady.” “Madeira.” “Tell Me More.” Gry comicbooks.com