Life, 1921-06-16 · page 25 of 36
Life — June 16, 1921 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct satirical pieces: **"Ballade of the Duffer"** (top): A humorous poem by Clinton Scollard mocking amateur golfers. The speaker complains about poor golf performance—bad shots, slicing, sand traps—despite believing his technique is sound. It's self-deprecating satire about incompetent recreational golfers who blame bad luck rather than skill. **"Standards"** (middle): A brief joke contrasting social access. A wealthy person entering high society faces easier standards than an immigrant entering America—because society's "literacy test" is less rigorous than immigration requirements. This satirizes both class privilege and American immigration policies. **Bottom cartoons**: Three pirate-themed comic strips featuring "Captain Kidd," apparently depicting children's play-acting as pirates. The humor comes from childish misunderstandings (confusing a "doughnut" errand with pirate treasure, etc.). The page overall satirizes American leisure culture, class divisions, and innocence—typical of Life magazine's social comedy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
June 16 Ballade of the Duffer LYHOUGH my stance seems not AWTY, I top my ball from off the tee; I feel | follow through, yet I Lack the fine sense of harmony; And why it is I cannot see My shots should tangent in the rough, But there they fly; ah, me! ah, me! lam a duffer, sure enough! I'd swear I do not lift my eye; l try to swing my brassie free, As I should do, but I descry What gives my heart much misery ; Then when I ply my stanch mashic I lift but sand. It's truly tough; The answer to it all must be,— lam a duffer, sure enough! I slough and slice a lovely lie, And | am stymied by a tree; Alas, there is no alibi When I take four instead of three! My putting is, as all agree, Just simply ragged, rotten stuff ; My partner jeers; I fain would flee; Iam a duffer, sure enough! Envoy Golfers, some day before I die Conquer I may each sad rebuff; But now—but now I can’t deny lam a duffer, sure enough! Clinton Scollard. Standards ILLIS: What makes you think it is easier for a rich man to land in Society than for an immigrant to land in America? Guus: In the former case the literacy His Honor (during impassioned address by counsel): SE 1F YOU CAN FIND OUT test isn’t as strict. WHAT THE BASEBALL SCORE IS, ¢ Lookout; CAPT'IN KIDD, THERE'S A Captain Kidd; vo TH’ GUNS, MEN! De- “THERE'S NO USE RESISTIN’ WHEN IT'S PICIOUS LOOKIN’ CKAFT APPROACHIN’, YEND TH" TREASURE! MY MA COMIN’ TO GIT HER DOUGHNUTS.” comicbooks.com