Judge, 1897-04-24 · page 16 of 20
Judge — April 24, 1897 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1897 *Judge* satirical comic strip depicts "Herr Gatterman," a German musician performing a solo with a tuba. A mad dog interrupts him, but rather than flee, the professor cleverly uses his instrument as a weapon—luring the dog into attacking, then trapping and silencing it by forcing the animal into his tuba. The satire appears to mock German culture and musical pretension through exaggerated characterization (the "Herr" title, the improbable scenario). The pun in the title plays on "music" as a tool to overcome danger, though the actual "solution" is absurdly violent and destructive (the tuba is destroyed). The final panel shows citizens rewarding the professor despite his instrument's loss, perhaps mocking both German pomposity and public gullibility. The humor relies on period stereotypes about Germans and the incongruity of using a musical instrument as a practical weapon.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
+ There being no chance of escape from the frenzied canine, the brainy Herr Gatterman is suddenly interrupted in his solo by cries of ** Mad dog © prof has an idea- —and lures the maddened brute into making a spring. 1a bes faabeciore assures safety by banging the entrapped animal tightly into his tuba. = While grateful citizens vie with each other in rewarding the professor for bravery and the loss of his beloved tuba in defense of their safety. COPYRONT 1897 BY THE JUDGE PUBLISHING COMPANY OF NEW YORK, ‘Sackett s Withelms Litho Co New York, At this juncture a heroic policeman puts in an appearance and puts an end to the dog (and instrument's) music forever. THE INSTRUMENTALITY OF MUSIC IN OVERPOWERING THE SAVAGE BRUTE. comicbooks.com