Judge, 1904-12-10 · page 9 of 20
Judge — December 10, 1904 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a comic strip satirizing a street character—"Nervy Nat"—who appears to be a con artist or petty criminal experiencing an unexpectedly fortunate Christmas. The humor follows his escalating schemes and delusions: He finds money and plans to enjoy luxury meals and fine clothing. He hides counterfeit bills in a homeless man's shoe to evade a "fly cop" (police officer). Later, when passing fake money at a restaurant, he blames a tenant. The strip culminates with Officer O'Toole arresting him, yet Nat remains unrepentant, boasting about his brief luxuries. The satire mocks both Nat's criminal optimism and the era's class tensions—his casual counterfeiting, theft, and blame-shifting reflect period anxieties about urban crime and moral corruption among the poor. The "merry Christmas" framing adds ironic commentary on holiday excess and criminality coexisting in city life.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
i 1 \ Nexvy Nat—'" ‘Twas the night tehind Christmas, and | leave It to you—if you didn’t wear socks would you hang up your shoe? | would, you beti I'm going to shut my lamps tight and promise not to look till old Andrew Carnegie Claus has passed the quarter-post. Hope the head- lines on my comforter don't keep me awake, that's all."* 2. “Counrenremt Teo ""—" Dat fly cop is gettin’ too clost ter me. I'll have ter hide dese bum long-greens in dis hobo's shoe an’ trust ter luck in scarin’ ‘em out uv him later on."" Nervy Nat—"' That's the old boy now—but I promised not to peep. I belleve I'm getting into my second kidhood, playing Christmas like this."" 3. Nervy Nar—Say, this is bad—eh, what? Break the news to . mother! I will have ‘eats’ to-day. There must be a thousand crisp simoleans in this wad. I will take my constitutional and give the cham- bermaid a chance to make my bed; then Delmonico’s for mine. I think I will buy a fur surtout also."" Nervy Nat—"' You're positive that's the largest turkey you had in the house, and you're sure the ice around that fizz is quite first-class and absolutely cold? Very well: you may go and get me the other things | ordered. This will keep me from being bored while I'm waiting. You might send up to Central park and get me a flamingo. | always wanted to try one of those birds.”* Warrer—" Beg pardon, sir, but the cashler says as how he'd like you to give him some other bills, if you don't mind, sir, as these here bills is counterfeit—not meanin’ any offense, sir.” Nervy Nat—" By Jovel you don’t mean It. Well, some rascal passed ‘em off on me—must have been one of my tenants. That's the last time I'll collect rents myself. I have no other kind with me at pres- ent, but I'll get some and be right back. Put it to my account till I return.” NERVY NAT’S MERRY CHRISTMAS. Orricer O'Toote—"' Oi hardly knew yez, Nat, in all thim glad r-rags.” Nervy Nat—" Laugh on, oh, base ‘minion of the law! | knew it wouldall end this way—with our customary stroll to the house of the green lamps, But little care I what happens now. | had a feast that would throw the gods in a fit. I suppose I'll have to give up these garments to those measly gents’ outfitters, But the turkey is beyond their control.” comicbooks.com