Judge, 1904-02-13 · page 5 of 20
Judge — February 13, 1904 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical comic strip mocking social climbing and class pretension in Gilded Age New York. "Nervy Nat" is an ordinary man who crashes an exclusive masked ball hosted by the wealthy "van Slushers" (the "Four Hundred" refers to New York's elite social circle). At the ball, Nat impersonates "J. Rockpoint Morganbilt," a wealthy socialite, to seduce a woman disguised as a butterfly. The satire hinges on social snobbery: the woman avoids the real Morganbilt (believing him a "grub") but accepts kisses from the impostor. She discovers the deception when Nat drinks beer instead of high-balls—a detail revealing class markers even in intoxication. The final panel jokes that Nat has literally become demonic through his social fraud. The strip mocks both pretentious wealthy society and the desperation of social climbers attempting to breach its ranks.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ts 2 Nervy Nat—“‘Always in luck, by George! ‘The van Slushers re- Nervy Nat— How dare you lay your filthy hand on me, sirrah? quest the presence of your company at a masked ball.’ And it's this Do you happen to know that i am J. Rockpoint Morganbilt? Just be- evening, too: and, as luck would have it, | haven't a single engagement. cause I live near here and choose to walk to my friend's blowout, do you I'll go. It's a duty one owes society to be seen at least semi-occasion- presume to question meh? Another word now and I'll have you trans- ally amongst one's friends.”* ferred to the Bronx.” 3. . 4 Nervy Nat—" Ah, dear butterfly, you are disguised indeed; for who Nervy Nat—“' One kiss, sweet butterfly—just one!"" would recognize you as a wall-flower? Willst sit out this dance in yon ‘Tue autrerrty—"' Yes, dear Rockie; help yourself."" conservatory with a mere grub?” Tue eutrerrLy—"Pish-tush with your pretty compliments, Rockle, dear! 1 know you, although your disguise as ‘Nervy Nat’ is ‘a world- beater, Surely I'll go with you, you dear old thing!" 5, Tue surterrLy—“ Oh, you monster! You're not Rockie Morganbilt, and you kissed me! I suspected as much, as you have been drinking - beer. and Rockie never drinks anything but high-balls. Oh, you wretch! ‘Tue pevi.—“ Out you go, you rank impostor!"* Help! help!” Nervy Nat—''It seems hardly necessary for me to say, ‘Get thee Nervy Nat—"' Dear me! but you are particular" — behind me, Satan!" NO. 11.—NERVY NAT AMONG THE FOUR HUNDREN. comicbooks.com