Judge, 1904-10-22 · page 3 of 16
Judge — October 22, 1904 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This appears to be a comic strip featuring "Nervy Nat," a recurring character in Judge magazine. The narrative follows Nat's attempt to enter Officer O'Toole's house through deception—posing as an "amateur pickpocket" to gain entry. The satire targets class pretension and social climbing. Nat uses flattery and lies to convince the officer he's a "desperate gentleman" rather than admitting his true criminal intent. When discovered, he tries bribery and further manipulation. The humor derives from Nat's bumbling criminality and his transparent attempts at social deception. O'Toole represents working-class authority (an Irish police officer, suggested by the name), while Nat embodies the scheming urban rogue trying to exploit others through manipulation rather than honest means. The strip satirizes both petty crime and social fraud.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1 Nerv Nat—"' Nobody seems to be about. Here ts an opportunity to make the ‘amateur cracksman’ look like an ordinary pickpocket. I will is window and benevolently assimilate the family's ‘ sixteen-to- Nervy Nat—''Sh-h! Nota sound, woman, as you value your life! I thought no one was stirring: but since you are there keep silent—as silent as Judge Parker—for I'm a desperate gentleman "— Noran—* Be gorry! yez shcart me fera minyit. Oi thart yez wor th’ missus at . Moike, Moike! come out av thot! It's all roight— it's only a hobo.” Nervy Nat—"‘As | live, Officer O'Toole, my evil gentus! That Irishman Is like the atmosphere—he's everywhere. | must retreat—he's coming. My poor brain Is flopping about like a flounder on the dock." Orricer O'Toote—"* Ah, Nervy, me by! Is it house-breakin’ yez're thryin’ now, t’ say narthin’ about dishturbin’ me an’ me Norah?’ Oi'll give yez a beatin’ up fer this.”” a Y Yi s. Nervy Nat—"* Well, so long, O'Toole! See you again before long, 1 suppose. Sorry I can't stay—but I have an appointment with a chap at the club. | Beastly bore, but still it can’t be helped.” Noran—"* O1'll hov yez, me foine cockylorum, whin yez land in th’ ¢rain-barrul!”* i 4. Orricer O'Toote—"' Norah, git a poker an‘ go round outsoide th’ house, under th’ windy. Th shpalpane 's goln’ to jump, out th sleond shtory.”” Nervy Nat—"The way you're puffing, O'Toole, | should say you were nearly out of gasoline. You'll have a lot to sweep up, Norah, if he explodes."* 6. Orricer O'Toote—" Don't hit him, Norah: lave him t' me. Oi want him fresh t’ shtart on.” Nervy Nar—"'Is this Lake Superior, or what? Before you begin pounding me to a pulp throw me a life-preserver. | never swam a stroke in my life.” NO, 4S.—NERVY NAT FELONIOUSLY ENTERS A HOUSE.