Judge, 1904-07-02 · page 3 of 16
Judge — July 2, 1904 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This comic strip satirizes a common early-20th-century entertainment: impersonation acts at world's fairs. "Nervous Nat" (the protagonist) disguises himself as Prince Pu Lun, heir to the Chinese throne, to experience imperial treatment at the fair. The satire targets two things: (1) the exotic appeal of Asian royalty to American audiences, and (2) the performative nature of fairs themselves, where identity could be fabricated for amusement. Nat's nervous behavior—attempting the deception while fearful of exposure—drives the humor. The strip mocks both gullible fair-goers willing to treat any costumed figure as royalty, and the era's fascination with "Oriental" spectacle as entertainment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
L a Nervy Nat—"'The paper states that Prince Pu Lun, the heir to the Nervy Nat—"' My pig-tall fs convincing, at any rate. I flatter myself Chink throne, is made much of at the fair. | will impersonate his royal that there is an unmistakable alr of orlentalism about me which will pass yellowness and see what Imperialism feels like."” me anywhere except perhaps In the chop-suey cafes, which, of course, 1 will avoid, Now watch ‘em grovel when | make my imperial presence known.” we 4 Neavy “Nar—""Oh, you're on. boys! ‘You're next! just keep: 06 Gume—" Where will your majesty be pleased to be shoved, sir?" eating the gravel. Bite off some of those uneven places—it'll improve the Nenvy Nat—"" Worm of western barbarism! guide me to the nearest ‘alls. 1 sce You're up in Chink etiquette all right, “Lovely weather for feed-emporium, that I may slake the imperial thirst and appease the ini~ fair. Oh, my, yes Gare orriciat—" Walk right in, prince!" Perial appetite, . Nervy Nat—"‘You see, boys, I'm not really Prince Pu. 1 would Warter—"' This, your highness, is a ceep-dish rat-pie a la Tien-Tsin, have kept it up, only | balked at the rat-pie._1 worried down the birdie’s- cooked by the chef especially for your royal highness "— nest soup, the guinea-pig steak, and the moth-ball sandwiches, but I had Nervy Nat—" Take it away—take it far away and call the police! to call {t all off at the ple. This Is my farewell appearance as the yellow I want to give myself up!” peril.”” NO. 31.—NERVY NAT LMPERSONATES A PRINCE AT THE FAIR. ‘comicbooks.