Judge, 1903-05-02 · page 10 of 16
Judge — May 2, 1903 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This six-panel comic satirizes the famous legend of Sir Walter Raleigh laying his cloak over a puddle for Queen Elizabeth I. The joke subverts the romantic historical narrative by introducing a Dutch captain who gives Raleigh a cheese instead of receiving credit for the gallant gesture. The humor works on multiple levels: it mocks the idealized version of English history by suggesting Raleigh's chivalry was actually borrowed/stolen. The captain's irritation and threat to "assassinate that Dutch captain" provides absurdist comedy. Queen Elizabeth and her court react with dramatic shock, while the cheese itself becomes a comedic character ("Squash!"). The satire appears aimed at deflating nationalist historical mythology—showing "English history" as less noble and more ridiculous than commonly portrayed. Judge magazine frequently mocked American reverence for European aristocratic traditions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
H 2 ‘ Cartan Franxrurter—" Ach, Sir Valter, vell met! I haf yust comed ‘Sin Watrer Raveich—" Thanks, captain, I'll put it in my cloak- me from Rotterdam. Let me presentation you mit dis lofely cheese.” pocket and remember you when I eat it.” . 6. . Six Warrer—"' Oh, just wait till I get out of here! I'll assassinate Exwzasern—"* Oh, | faint! To the tower with the villain!" that Dutch captain."* Twe cueese—* Squash!" THAT SIR WALTER RALEIGH-QUEEN ELIZABETH CLOAK EPISODE—A SIDE-LIGHT ON ENGLISH HISTORY. comicbooks.com