Life, 1921-08-11 · page 12 of 40
Life — August 11, 1921 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The top cartoon depicts a golf scene where a man named Abercrombie complains to Fitch about paying eighteen dollars per dozen for golf balls, calling the price ridiculous. Fitch's response—"I know; but I play a ridiculous game"—is the joke's punchline, suggesting golf itself is an absurd pastime worthy of ridicule. This satirizes golf as an expensive, time-wasting hobby pursued by wealthy men. The cartoon mocks both the sport's inherent absurdity and the financial extravagance required to play it. The elegant clothing and pastoral setting emphasize that golf was an upper-class pursuit in this era, making it ripe for satirical commentary on frivolous spending and leisure activities among the affluent.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Abercrombie: Fitch: What? That’s ridiculous! I paid eighteen dollars a dozen for these golf balls . . . Se “I know; but I play a ridiculous game.” Mutatis Mutandis HEN my lady goeth fairly, And her countenance is rarely Lighted by the things that please her, Mien and happy mood according Are themselves the sweet rewarding Of the kindling eye that sees her. But when her course is out of measure, Or some stirring of displeasure Tints her checks with hues that never Fell on canvas, when from darkling, Troubled brows her eyes are sparkling, She is lovelier than ever. Leslie Pinckney Hill. Toddling HAT is toddling? It is only the outward form of an inward and spiritual disease. If one would know what is the matter with the world, watch the people in dance halls. The diplomatic toddler set the pace: The motto is, When in doubt, toddle. Wall Street has been toddling now for some weeks. The toddle is closely allied with the toboggan. We know, however, that toddling is passing. And, besides, Admiral Sims is no toddler. Blank Spaces AM looking for the man who invented blank spaces. He has irritated me all my life; but lately, what with two different income-tax blanks to fill out and an insurance appli- cation blank, he has gone beyond endurance. You know the man I mean; he has devised all the blank spaces and dotted lines in the world as if they were to be filled in by men with names such as Rex Fox. If your name hap- pens to be Melchisidec Bartholomew Cholmondeley Harring- ton, you suffer mutilation. I am looking for this man; I think when I find him I will have found the man who invented the sleeping-car berth, the Pullman washroom, the hotel portion of spring chicken, the guest-room towel, publishers’ royalties, the kitchenette, the dress-shirt collar, costumes for musical comedies and the Ger- man reparations offer. Hints to Summer Tourists O man is a hero to his wallet. A tip in time saves nine. The hand of the Customs official is quicker than the eye. When in Rome do as the Romans do in New York. Travel—beyond the three-mile limit—maketh the full man. Don’t give up the ship—it isn’t yours. Journeys end in lovers consulting their lawyers. comicbooks.com