Judge, 1904-01-23 · page 5 of 18
Judge — January 23, 1904 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical comic strip following an arrogant Eastern character (Nervy Nat) encountering Western life. The humor relies on contrasting his citified pretension with rough frontier realities. Nervy Nat, a wealthy New Yorker (references to "Jersey City" and "Madison-square park"), arrives out West expecting comfort but is repeatedly humiliated: he rides freight trains, attempts to mount a stubborn mule named Mazeppa, gets thrown by a cyclone, and ends up in a ramshackle carriage with broken springs. The satire mocks Eastern dandies' ignorance of and contempt for rural life, while the local Westerners (Pierced Bill, Hank) represent honest, unsentimental frontier folk. The joke is Nat's progressive comeuppance—his effete complaints and inexperience repeatedly backfire, and he learns that Western transportation, animals, and hospitality operate by different (harsher) rules than Eastern society.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Nervy Nat—‘That hospitable notice warms the cockles of my heart—not! After that long and far from luxurious ride on the trucks in this God-forsaken country, to see a personal affront like that sign—well, that gentle beast over there will just about suit me for getting away from here on." Nervy Nat—" Whoa, Mazeppa, or whatever your fool name is! 1 never boarded one of these things before. By the great hornspoon! if I'm ever west of Jersey City again I hope I'll choke."* 3. 4. Nexvy Nat—"'That animal is a hypocrite. One fact is firmly im- Pie-eveo Bitt—' Fishin’ 's good, Hank. I've snaked a lobster."” pressed on my mind, and that is that you don't need any lessons in getting Nervy Nat—" Ouch! | never noticed that cyclone coming.”” off—it's just as easy.” 5. Pre-eveo Brt—' Ef that thar cord don't bust you'll git a free-gratis- 6. fer-nothin’ ride. You're another one er them peanut-headed eastern gents Nervy Nat—' This ts the first time | have had a private car with wot don't believe in signs."* such poor springs in it. It is headed toward the rising sun and Madison- Nervy Nat—‘'I'm sure it embarrasses me greatly to have you gen- square park, so there'll be no kick registered by Nathaniel if this tub tlemen put yourselves to so much trouble on my "—— holds out."* NO. 8.—NERVY NAT OUT WEST. comicbooks.com