Life, 1927-04-21 · page 25 of 39
Life — April 21, 1927 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This *Life* magazine page contains satirical humor typical of early 20th-century American comedy. **"The New Bilecto Rules"** by Robert Benchley is absurdist satire mocking overly complicated sports rules. "Bilecto" appears to be a fictional or obscure sport (likely invented for humor), and Benchley ridicules how rule changes make games unplayable—a jab at how bureaucratic committees complicate leisure activities. The joke is that rule #1 makes the game "practically impossible to play at all." **The cartoon** above shows a domestic scene where a woman (Maisie) assures another (Flossie) that her boyfriend spends money wisely—because she's "the only girl he ever takes on parties." The humor relies on the implication that taking only one girl out is economical, though it's unclear if this is genuine praise or sarcastic. **"The Constant Dub"** cartoon illustrates a man who's clumsy at sports generally but becomes graceful when given a cocktail shaker to manipulate—satirizing how some people are naturally skilled at bartending despite lacking athletic ability. All reflect *Life's* focus on genteel, urbane humor for educated readers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The New Bileeto Rules AT a recent meeting of the Rules Committee of the National Bilecto Association, several impor- tant changes were made in the nature of the game. In fact, those who know bileeto as it was played when it was introduced into this country several years ago will hardly be able to play it at all under the new rules, which is probably just as well. They are too old to play, anyway. Bilecto, or, as the English call bats - and - hounds,” is played on a bileeto court with “wis- sers” or light, seven-inch wands made of Burma straw. The ball, or “wachit,” is about the size of a bowl- ing-ball, only he: The idea is to strike this ball in the air with the wands and, if possible, get it over the net and into a small cage or “joll” which your opponent carries in his left hand. A “cage” counts two, and a “try for cage” which miss- es counts three. It is therefore to the player’s advantage to miss. According to the new rules the fol- lowing changes are specified: 1, Any bileeto-player signaling for a “try for cage’ must stand at least four fect from the net on dne side and three feet from the net on the other, making it practically +im- possible to play the game at all. 2. A “dump wachit,” or grounded ball, belongs to the side which can count to ten first. 3. If, through a mistake, a player on a nearby bileeto court gets into your court, he is declared a “pris- oner” and has to pay a forfeit of a kiss (or he may substitute standing on his hands for five minutes) 4. The old “crally-play,” by means of which the ball was batted | with the straw so that it went back- it, “dump Maisie: pors HE SPEND HIS MONEY FOOLISHLY? Flossie: No, 1’M THE ONLY GIRL HE EVER TAKES ON PARTIES. ward instead of forward, is elim- inated as too dangerous, and it is now obligatory for the batter to hit the ball without the “crally” or 0 one whose name a “W" can pla The first bileeto game under the new rules is scheduled to take place at the Second Unitarian Armory next month, It will be watched with great interest by bilceto pl: throughout the country, as there is some question whether or not it will be any fun at all. Robert Benchley. The Constant Dub Spring Song IVE me the crash of a circuit smash— of a well-laid bunt, ening din when a guy Sin, Shoving his spikes in front. Lead me to where I can paw the air bat; > I will crack And heckle the man Of my own free choi my voic And ruin my Bangkok hat. Day after day I will ste: To follow the frer I will park dull ex chair... And probably lose my job. A.M. S., Jr. : in my office BUT—WHEN GIVEN A COCKTAIL SHAKER TO TOY WITH, HIS STANCE, HIS BACK-HAND, HIS TIMING, HIS CRAWL-STROKE, HIS TOP-SPIN, HIS FOLLOW-THROUGH AND THE RHYTHM OF HIS SWING ARE THE ENVY OF ALL BEHOLDERS, comicbooks.com