Judge, 1904-08-06 · page 3 of 20
Judge — August 6, 1904 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
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.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Nervy Nat—'' There may be a chance for a bit of fun in this thing. Tue boss eaRser—" This is officer O'Toole, Now, see that you giv | will apply for the pesition. 1 hereby solemnly promise myself that it him first-class attention. If you give him satisfaction I'll engage you.” will not be called work.” Nervy Nat—"' Very weli, sir. (Aside.) My old enemy, O Toole. 1 will do a little landscape gardening on his golf-links that will make Central park look like an empty lot.”! 3. 4. Orricer O'Toote—"* Give me a hair-trim an’ a shave, an’ wurk aisy. Nervy Nat—" Half of his hair and half of his mustache gone. Hi Oi'm goin’ to take a nap, as Oi didn’t shlape but tin hours lasht noight.”* will be a sweet-looking object when I'm finished. All the nurse-girls an vy Nat—"'I'll be as quiet as a burglar, so take your beauty-nap. cooks on his teat will give him the congealed flipper now. Glory be to Madam Yale! you need it.”* 6. Orricer O'Toore—"* — — —— — ——- — —— — 11112112" Nervy Nat—"‘I wish you wouldn't b> so precipitate! 1 wanted to Nervy Nat—"'I sort of felt you'd be surprised when you looked in take off this barber's jacket before we got into the street. I'm afraid you the glass. Give my kindest regards to Nora and Bedelia when you see never will acquire that calm, unruffled spirit that is the only gateway to them." the higher life." NO. 36.—NERVY NAT PLAYS HORSE WITH THE COP. comicbooks.com