Judge, 1902-11-29 · page 18 of 20
Judge — November 29, 1902 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1902 Judge comic strip depicts a classic con game exploiting Thanksgiving preparations. A man ("Mr. Flash," identified as "the bunco man"—a swindler) overhears a guest mention he left his valuable watch under his pillow while hurrying to buy a turkey. Flash poses as a servant, convinces the homeowner to give him the watch under the pretense of returning it to the guest, then attempts to pawn it for money. The satire targets urban con artists and the gullibility of the middle class during holiday shopping chaos. The joke's irony: the mistress had already given the watch to a young man delivering the turkey—so Flash's elaborate scheme collapses when exposed. The exaggerated caricatures and dialect reflect period stereotypes. The strip mocks both criminal cunning and the social disorder of holiday commerce.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1, Oup parry (with the turkey)—"' Yes, my wife was so afraid | would not get my pick of the turkeys that she hurried me off In such haste this morn- Ing that I forgot to get my watch I left under my pillow, and I'm living ‘way up one hundred and nineteen X street.”* 3. Mr. FLasn—" Yes, dat one will do. Just wrap it up an’ I'll take it wid me.” 5. Tue wistress—‘*Tell my husband that the turkey was a beauty, and here is the watch. Be careful, for it's a very valuable one.” “Well, Mary, here is the Teft under the pillow—did 7, Tue ot raxry (arriving home that A ey you put that away carefully ?’” COPYMENT 1902 BY JUDGE COMPANY OF REW YORK. OVERHEARD—A THANKSGIVING TRAGEDY. 2. Mr. Suarrteion FLAsn (the bunco man)—"'l guess my business lays on de cutside of de car from now on.” 4. Mr. FLasn (as the servant comes to the door of one hundred and nineteen X street)—"* De boss says as here is de turkey de mistress ordered, an’ he says fer her ter give me his watch he left under de pillow dis mornin’."” 6. Mr. Fiasn—" Well, if dis ain't de greatest game | ever worked! 1 kin git a hundred on it sure.” 8, Tue mistress— Turkey? ‘Watch? What are you talking about, John? Why, | gave the watch to the young man you sent up with the turkey this morning!"* Soochett & Wits Ltha & Pi Ca Rew York. comicbooks.com