Judge — August 6, 1904 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Nervy Nat Plays Horse with the Cop" This comic strip satirizes a street character called "Nervy Nat" who attempts to con a police officer. The humor relies on class and social commentary typical of Judge magazine. In panel 1, Nat spots a "Wanted" advertisement for a first-class assistant. He proposes himself to the boss, promising good behavior. The boss hires him, assigning Officer O'Toole to oversee him. The subsequent panels show Nat's scheme: he convinces O'Toole to give him a haircut and shave by flattery, then literally uses the officer as a "horse," riding him around while causing chaos. The final panel shows them both tumbling down the street. The satire mocks both Nat's criminal cunning and the officer's gullibility, reflecting period anxieties about urban crime and police competence.