Judge, 1904-07-16 · page 3 of 20
Judge — July 16, 1904 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This six-panel comic satirizes a character named "Nervy Nat" (identifiable by his top hat) and his interactions with Native Americans. The humor relies on period-typical ethnic stereotypes and caricature. The narrative shows Nat encountering an Indigenous chief and his daughter. The satire centers on Nat's opportunistic behavior—he borrows money, accepts hospitality, and courts the chief's daughter while planning to abandon them all. The title "Ingratitude" mocks his shameless exploitation of their generosity. The punchline involves Nat absconding with the chief's valuables (a "copper stock") and daughter, then dismissively dismissing Indigenous culture as grounds for "marriage-laughs." The comic reflects late 19th/early 20th-century American attitudes depicting Native Americans as naive and suitable targets for ridicule.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Nervy Nat—“‘ For heaven's sake, John! you're deuced reckless with that rope of yours. Wish you wouldn't sling it quite so near my hat. If I thought for a minute you were getting gay with me I'd "—— Cie Earum Auive—"' Me no like your face. Burn you up to-mor- row. Stay right here."* Nervy Nat—" But I don’t care to stay here. I don’t think the climate agrees with me in this neighborhood—it's too bracing. | feel that | am only trespassing on your hospitality besides, 1 always make it a rule to leave before I'm fired." Nervy Nat—"Hold on—I mean, let go—you mustard-colored mon- grel! I'll take it all back. 1 know this is your aboriginal way of showing your friendship and hospitality, but you really are awfully crude about it, you know. I'll come and have a drink with you, but I'd rather walk, if you don't mind.” Cuier’s paucnTeR—"' Me cut rope, let you go, if you take me for wife. Me want to go east. Chief make heap big bonfire out of you to- morrow. What you say—yes?” Nervy Nat—* Why, Minnie-laugh-laugh, I shall be only too pleased. I'm not what you'd call a marrying man—but to oblige a friend, But before we skip | want to tie you up here just a minute to show you how Viel." Cwier's paucHTer—" Ugh! that’s ‘nough. Me know how you felt. Bad chief hurt my husband. We run away together. Undo rope. Me know—heap understand.”* Nervy Nat—" You'll see the point better, oh, daughter of the russet shee! when your paleface Nathaniel gets the knot tied. Then, oh, then, my amalgamated copper stock! a great white light will flood your cere- bral rourd-house. Only wait! Miyy, MUNG Te ie 6 Nervy Nat—"'Now git! It's a shame to disappoint a lady, but I'd have to give up the club when | got to the city if | got married: and I've been a bachelor too long to give up the habit. It was with a mental, not an Indian, reservation, you know, that | said I'd marry Minnie-laugh- laugh, any way.” NO. 33.—NERVY NAT’S INGRATITUDE. comicbooks.com