Life — April 29, 1926 — page 13: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical illustration about golf caddies as a social concern. The image shows an adult golfer surrounded by young boys, with the caption identifying the caddy as a "mental hazard." The satire appears to criticize the influence of caddies on young players' psychology and behavior during golf. The gathering of attentive boys around the golfer suggests caddies were viewed as potentially corrupting influences—perhaps through gambling, crude language, or other vices associated with the profession. This reflects early 20th-century anxieties about working-class youth and their moral development. The "mental hazard" framing treats the caddy's presence as a psychological threat comparable to physical obstacles on a golf course, satirizing contemporary concerns about social contamination and youth corruption.