Judge, 1904-06-11 · page 5 of 16
Judge — June 11, 1904 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a six-panel comic strip satirizing a mischievous character called "Nervy Nat." The humor relies on slapstick consequences for his pranks and deceptions. The plot: Nat tricks Mrs. Shellpod with a false emergency (claiming her neighbors' house is on fire and their children need rescue), sending her on a wild goose chase. Meanwhile, he attempts to steal cider from a window but accidentally acquires a jug of kerosene instead. When he drinks it, believing it's alcohol, the liquid ignites when he strikes a match near his mouth, leaving him badly burned. The Shellpods discover Nat's deception and ironically witness his self-inflicted injury while trying to extinguish the fire he inadvertently started. The satire mocks both Nat's criminality and his comeuppance—a morality tale delivered through physical comedy. The racial caricature of Mrs. Shellpod (depicted with exaggerated features and dialect) reflects the magazine's period conventions. The "illuminated" title puns on Nat being literally set ablaze.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Nervy Nat—"'A jug of sweet cider flirting with me through yon window-pane! | will use a little Japanese strategy and get the strangle- hold on that sassy jug." Pe ie Nervy Nat—"" Yes, Mrs. Shellpod: the Bateses’ house is on fire, and your esteemed husband told me to tell you to come down there right away and get the Bateses' twins, They are singed to a cafe-av-lait tint, and Mrs. Bates is too daffy to take care of them." Mrs, SHeLtrop—" Lan’ sakes! I'll be down thar in a jiffy. The pore litte brats!" Tal ME Co 3. Nervy Nat—" Here's to easy marks! WH Kl Nervy Nat—"‘ Great prohibition! what in the name of Bacchus have I taken? By all the Standard-oll magnates, I believe | have converted myself into a duplex burner! By the taste of that stuff, ‘tis kerosene! | will strike a match and see.”* 5. Mrs. Suettpop—" For goodness sake! come in here, Hiram. “Tain't Satan hisself, but it's one of his favorites, I'll,be bound! Why, it's thet pesky scallywag ‘at sent me off on thet wild-goose chase to the Bateses'! Said you wanted me to come down thar—thet the house wuz on fire an’a lot of other whoppers."* Nervy Nat—"' You ought to be ashamed to put kerosene in a cider jug, Mrs. Shellpod!"" 6. Mr. Suettrop—‘* Pump hard, Cynthy; the fire 's nearly out.”” Nexvy Nat—"I'm awfully obliged to you both. This will certainly teach mea lesson. All 1s not beverage that {s bottled. Sniff before you swig. Heaven help those who have the nerve to help themselves. “All that, and much more, have I learnt. Now bring on the masseur and the crash towels!" NO. 28.—NERVY NAT ILLUMINATED. comicbooks.com