Life, 1925-10-15 · page 19 of 36
Life — October 15, 1925 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece mocks amateur ("duffer") golfers, specifically a nervous, incompetent player pressured into joining a foursome. The accompanying photograph shows men in period golf attire (early 20th century), depicting the anxious golfer's internal monologue. The humor targets the golfer's self-doubt and embarrassment: his poor stance, shaky hands, inability to hit straight drives, and acute awareness of being watched by spectators (including women). His partner's shouted insult—"Come, drive, you lobster!"—adds social humiliation to athletic failure. The closing line, attributing the piece to Joseph C. Lincoln (a humorist writer), pivots to dark comedy: after describing this excruciating moment, the author suggests deflecting with small talk about weather rather than discussing "that drive"—implying the shot was so catastrophically bad that even the golfer wants to forget it immediately.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Duffer Wich wanders wide Why, when urged to fill that foursome, did he weakly, meekly yield? right, And what was it that the “Pro” that morning said? | # his side, Oh, that golf were played at midnight in a fifty-acre field! : How about his stance? And hands? And—yes, his head? unts 204 busins sit, Why are balls made small as marbles? Oh, why must those women stare ? ve. One more swing—and then—oh, then, the fateful drive! J its worfhas quit, Upward moves his shaking clubhead—hangs an instant poised in air— is drive Then his partner shouts: “Come, drive, you lobster! Drive!” Lord help him! for that @ve. Let us talk about the weather—not that drive. Joseph C, Lincoln, comicbooks.com