Judge, 1904-04-09 · page 5 of 16
Judge — April 9, 1904 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This comic strip satirizes a con artist protagonist who repeatedly outwits others through deception. "Nervy Nat" steals a waiter's attention and valuables by posing as a wealthy gentleman with a suitcase full of cash ("greenbacks"). The waiter, eager for a tip, abandons his duties and neglects to guard Nat's luggage—which Nat has deliberately filled with frogs instead of money. The humor relies on class-based trickery: Nat exploits the waiter's greed and servility, using fake promises of wealth to distract him. When the waiter later discovers the deception ("Buncoed"), Nat escapes unpunished, having obtained a free meal. The title claims this is one rare instance where Nat succeeds—implying he's typically caught. The satire mocks both the criminal's audacity and the easily-fooled servant class.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
| Warrma Roce NOQ_ SNOKING ON “THIS Sink Nervy Nat—"' Cholly is awfully careless with his luggage. I think | can use this dress-suit case distinctly to my advantage. He will e’en have purple spasms when he finds he'll have to wear that collar of his fora week. Me for the underbrush!" Nervy Nat—"I_am sorry to have to dump those elegant shirts and collars onto the sward, but I must have some frogs. | have a charming scheme sizzling in my cerebral minaret, by which | have hopes of a large man’s size meal. Get in there, you amphiblous, cold-storaged-veined croaker!” 3, Nervy Nat—"‘Hist, waiter! An you serve me well with the best your house affords you shall have your share of the greenbacks within this portmanteau, “Tis full of greenbacks, sirrah!"” Warrer—" Oh, Lord, sir! you take me breat’ away, Cert.! Youse ‘ll have de primest feed we got in de place, sir.” 5. Nervy Nat—"'I lave got to drop into the ‘Steenth National bank a moment, so keep a watchful eye on yon suit-case. You may bring in the cabinet pudding, and | will be back by the time you have served it, my man. So far the repast is excellent."* Warrer—" Very good, sir: I will guard it wid me life—never fear. (Aside.) I'll have a peep at dat swag now!" 4. Nervy Nat—"‘A goodly fowl, forsooth! and as tender as a lover's sigh. Caitiff, you have done nobly by me. I can hear the burst of ap- plause and the shouts of appreciation from my expectant inner man. (To himself.) Haven't eaten a thing since Tuesday but a package of popcorn U borrowed from a kid.” Warter (to himself) —" Hully gee! I'd like to have a squint at de long green in dat grip.” 6. pep ATER—" Buncoed, an’ me In de Tenderloin fer twenny years! lelp!"" Nervy Nat—"'I believe I have had enough without the cabinet pud- ding and the camembert. They will have frogs’ legs for dinner in that hostelry. My conscience doesn't worry me a bit, though, for they cer- tainly were green-backs,”" NO. 19.—NERVY NAT WINS OUT FOR ONCE. comicbooks.com