Life, 1921-11-17 · page 10 of 34
Life — November 17, 1921 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical comic sequence mocks the social pretension of bridge players in the 1920s-30s era. The humor centers on a young woman named Dorothye who, bored during a bridge game, entertains herself by providing commentary about the other players—essentially treating them as her "dummy" hand (in bridge, the dummy is the exposed hand played by the declarer's partner). The satire targets both the tedium of bridge as a social ritual and the absurdity of adults taking the card game so seriously that they fail to notice they're being mocked by a clever young woman. The joke suggests bridge players are pompous and oblivious—perfect targets for her amusement.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Doubling the Dummy Who Says a Young Girl Can’t Amuse Herself Playing Bridge? ay SS ay Nin If it wasn’t really so awfully funny, Dorothye would never interrupt the bidding to tell a sub-rosy anecdote to Ethylle. The rest of the rubber may now be profitably spent in giggling. Inasmuch as Dorothye has uncon- sciously displayed the best of her hand to the eagle-eyed Hubert, it isn't really so awfully funny. YO Si “But, Tom, dear, I can't—” Tom, JS however, is a persistent suitor. As ZB long as his nickels hold out, he'll EGE Pina. ‘NOt take no for an answer. he does Plead so prettily. elapsed so far: thirty-two minutes, six seconds. Maribelle would do less canting and a little more can- ning, the rubber might yet be saved. “I found my love in A-va-lon,” cheerfully proclaim soprano Bettye and alto Biddye. Whatever they found will never make up for what Arthur stands to lose under the influence of their fresh young voices. It's meant to be close harmony, but—as in the famous instance of near-beer—distances are ever deceptive. Granting the cruelty of sepa- rating lovers, newly betrothed, it is equally cruel to leave them together. Carefully started at different tables, Pattye and George had one mathematical chance in several thousand of landing in these par- ticular seats, Yet here they are. It must be fate! Isn't nature the silly old thing? yes = H sed <lWQ VS fa, "oe a i inal spade bid | » . to five (doubled | and redoubled), & Ethylle will proceed to watch the débacle from the arm of Hubert’s chair. She will further aid him by blow- ing cigarette smoke down his neck and humming faint, mosquito-like melodies into his somewhat preoccupied ear. It’s little attentions like these that make bridge such a popular indoor sport. comicbooks.com