Judge, 1904-05-28 · page 3 of 16
Judge — May 28, 1904 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This six-panel comic strip satirizes a character named "Nervy Nat" and his relationship with money and social climbing. The narrative follows Nat attempting to borrow money from "Certainly Not" (likely a wealthy person), claiming he needs funds for unspecified purposes. When rebuffed, Nat attempts various schemes to obtain money—visiting a book-maker, attempting to manipulate a club officer, and eventually getting into physical altercations. The satire targets working-class social ambition and financial desperation during what appears to be the early 20th century. "Nervy Nat" represents a hustler type constantly pursuing quick money through dubious means. The strip's humor derives from his repeated failures and the physical comedy of his comeuppances, mocking both his scheming nature and his inability to succeed despite persistent effort.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Nervy Nat—"A wad that would choke a tenor robust! Some Johnnie had his brains inspected once a month, or he wouldn't have been wise enough to leave his roll on the outside. "| think I will mingle with ¢ bookies myself."” 2 Tour—"'| had it from Casey himself, an‘ he rides him. Put all yer got on ‘Certainly Not.’ "* Nexvy Nat—" My boy, I'll do it. I feel that | am a cold-storage lobster in so doing, but | am quite reckless to-day. ‘Certainly Not’ is the skate for my money.” | jerse |Acceetes ) From Minors J Boox-maxer—" Holy snakes, Nat! it's a shame to take your money," Nervy Nat—Never mind, man. Give me eight hundred dollars’ forth of ' Certainly Not’ to win. Think you better torrow a nickel to get jome with, old man, as it will take a wheelbarrow to get my pile away with. ‘Certainly Not’ fs five hundred to one.” Nervy Nat—"'Come in, ‘Certainly Not'l Get an axe, Casey! Climb up on his neck! Slap him on the wrist, but bring him in! | know ll have one of my nervous headaches after all this excitement, but nevor mind. Gee! he's walking away from the bunch.” Nervy Nat—" Just see me as far as the club, officer. You can have a hatful for your trouble. Yes, ‘Certainly Not’ isa likely plug. The poor bockie says he'll have to go back to work on the farm. I'm coming back to-morrow with a furniture-van."" NO, 26.—NERVY 6. Nervy Nat—‘' Great sweepstakes! and | hadn't taken a handful out of that wheelbarrow. I'm going to stop reading that sporting page in the Evening Dope Sheet before my afternoon nap. It was either that, or | shall have to quit eating those heavy luncheons.”* NAT WAKES UP. comicbooks.com