Judge, 1932-02-27 · page 12 of 36
Judge — February 27, 1932 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Judge Magazine: "Izaak Stamford" Cartoon Explanation This satirical comic mocks Stanford University's decision to offer fishing as a college course. The cartoon depicts a classroom where an instructor teaches fishing fundamentals through absurd academic methods—students wear waders indoors, cast into wastebaskets, and study classical fishing texts like Izaak Walton's *Compleat Angler*. The humor targets the pretentiousness of colleges offering impractical courses under the guise of serious study. By treating fishing instruction with mock-formal pedagogy (pop quizzes, desk work, disciplinary remarks), the cartoonist satirizes educational institutions expanding their curricula into frivolous territory during what appears to be the early 20th century. The reference to "Izaak Stamford" puns on Izaak Walton (famous 17th-century fishing writer) and Stanford University. The satire suggests that making fishing "academic" strips it of its practical purpose—students learn theory in classrooms rather than actually fishing outdoors.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE IZAAK STAMFORD “Fishing Becomes a College Course at Stanford University” Headline. ft Clann. Step to the black- board and draw six methods of disentangling a fishline from an old . Mr. Atkinson, will you kindly pass around this can of night- tree stump crawlers—one to each man, please « Thank you... Now, gentlemen, you will please smear yourselves with’ fly dope and pay strict attention to the lesson... Adams! ‘Take your land- ing net out of the aisle before [ re- port you to the Dean... Izaak Wal ton, in his Compleat Angler, says, in | his chapter on still fishing for perch Mr, Anthony! Do you want to ¢ every fish in Palo Alto? Then, stop talking. “Mr. Blyth, will vou kindly put on your waders and come before the class +. Thank you . ow, gentlemen Mr. Blyth will assume that a brook trout has risen over near the bookease. I will place this serap-basket on the exact spot where he broke water... So... Now, Mr. Blyth—I want you to cast a Silver Doctor and a black gnat into the basket... Mr. Dier, will you climb up on your desk and take Mr. Blyth’s hooks out of the chande lier? 2... The class will turn to 4 Ww until Mr. Blyth untangles his line and rewinds his reel . . . Gleason! Wake up! Where would you be if your line snagged on a stump? se. Just for that remark you will rem: tise surf “Now—has gentleman a . the asshop- per between your thumb and index fingers... So... Mr. French! The class is waiting for vou... Step to the desk and get a fresh one, then +. Hoff! Do vou know you're in a rowboat? ..¢ Well, hadn't’ you better sit in the middle of your seat before you fall in? In the final examinations you'll wonder why you don't) know the difference between a salmon and a rubber boot 2... Mr. Harbeck— vou're holdir grasshoppe our fishing red like a horsewhip, Perhaps you'd like to drop the course and major in History... Then, just remember, you're supposed sitting on a rock in the Si TeClement—what would 3 if two bass got on your li —ecan you answer the question? . . If you’ stopped opening clams for a minute and paid attention you might learn somethi tbout it... Lane— (Page 31, please) comicbooks.com