Life, 1925-06-18 · page 17 of 43
Life — June 18, 1925 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents a "Historical Preface to Golf" discussing the game's origins. The top cartoon shows a man in military dress addressing a young golfer, with text referencing "Wm. Tell, Jr." and pivots—an apparent joke about William Tell and golf club pivots. The main text traces golf's etymology to ancient Cots and mentions Italian general Garibaldi's supposed connection to the sport through a humorous anecdote about fishing. The lower illustration depicts gentlemen relaxing under a tree during a golf outing, with the caption: "After all, it doesn't matter who wins. It's the exercise that's worth while, don't you think?"—a satirical commentary on upper-class leisure activities and the social pretense that competition matters less than the activity itself.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Wm. Tell, Jr.: ALL RIGHT, Por, SHOOT! BUT DON’T FORGET TO REPLACE THE DIVOTS. Historical Preface to Golf HE game of golf, like many other modern sports, owes its derivation to the ancient Copts, so termed because first international tournament it was they who Copt the champion- It was originally an aquatic pas- time, the participants rowing over the course, their oars secured in rowlocks or tholes. It is from this primitive phase of the game that we derive such expressions as the Eighteenth Thole and Nineteenth Thole. Another golf term may be traced hack to the Emperor Justinian, or “Tin- he was affectionately known to friends. in the ship Justinian once essayed a round on a day when he was suffering from a heavy cold, and, his ball landing in a bad lic, was handed a club by his se this driver and you'll eat it up, .” advised the youth familiarly. I do'd wad to ead id up,” answered the Imperial victim of hay fever whimsically. “I just wad to do a liddle nibblick (nibbling).” The word “nib- lick” is in constant use to-day. TALIAN golf long sought to interest their national hero, Garibaldi, in the pastime, but the latter preferred fishing. One day, as Garry was sitting by the bank of a stream in- tent upon hook and line, a delegation came to him with a petition that he give golf an official status by decreeing the devotees of SN'T MATTER WIIO WINS, WORTIT WHILE, DON’T YOU THINK?” material of which the balls should be made. The great warrior paid no attention; but suddenly, feeling a tug on his line, cried excitedly: “Gotta perch-a!” Misunderstanding, the committee thanked him and withdrew. Suffice it to s that gutta-percha has since been the material in favor. Many another fascinating story might he told of the early days of golf. But, unfortunately, there are none. Tip Bliss. IFE (to salesman-husband depart- ing on business trip) : Don't forget, dear, to take some dotted lines with IT’S THE EXERCISE THAT'S comicbooks.com