Judge, 1906-01-06 · page 14 of 14
Judge — January 6, 1906 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This six-panel satirical comic strip features "Nervy Nat," a character (likely British, given the accent and references) who encounters a lion and unicorn—symbols of the British Royal Coat of Arms. The humor derives from treating these heraldic symbols as literal animals causing chaos in London streets. The satire mocks both pompous British manners and the destruction these "royal" creatures cause. Nat sleepwalks through Mayfair, the lion attacks a flower seller's prized hat, and officers respond with absurd formality. The recurring joke: Nat apologizes graciously for the lion's mayhem while simultaneously dismissing the damage as merely annoying. The reference to "Broadway" in the final panel suggests either American tourism or mockery of American cultural attitudes. The working-class flower seller's dialect contrasts with Nat's refined speech, adding class commentary typical of Judge's satirical approach.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Nervy Nat—"‘ For the larst few nights | have bean walking in my sleep. I shall rent acouch to-night. One has seen more genteel nelgh- borhoods, but, by the portals of snoozedom! one would rather sleep in Soho than waik the pave in Mayfair. Amen and selah!" Nexvy Nat—"' Over you go—for the third time in American history! This will teach you not to hang around under gentlemen's windows. The lion and the cornucopia, indeed!” FroWer-citt—"' Police! “E's bean an’ gawn an’ murdered me! Me at wif fevvers is ruined! Police!"’ Nenvy Nat—'Madam, | am more than sorry: and as to that won- derful creation with feathers, wili_ you not come with me to Bond Street and select another at my expense ?* COOrmiAnT 1ES BY JUBEE COMPANY PUBLISHERS, 226 FOURTH AVE. MEW YORK Nervy Nat—"‘Now, wouldn't that Incommode you? Can you plo- Jure a full-blooded Yank sleeping with those two British wonder-beasts scrapping over the royal lid right outside your casement? No: you can- not. Can you register a lasting impression on your retina of my allowing the air to be polluted by that lion and the popcorn effect? Again I say, no? you cannot." 4. Frower-cir.—' Ow! Wot in ‘evin's nime—ow! Murder! Police! Hit’s a havalanche!”’ Gosh! {f that isn't just like a woman—at the bottom ;ppose | ought to go down and make a few con- 6 Orricen Suimm—"' So you're a heiiemy to ‘is majesty’s government, Frower-cirt—"''E's a cruel scoundrel, is that cove! E ‘in't satis- fied wif nearly knockin’ a lidy's ‘ead off, ¢ ‘in't—ow! now!—but ‘e must hadd hinsult ter hinjury oy brikin’ me best at han’ then try ter tike me reppetytion aw’y by suggestin’ of my wawkin’ wif im in Bond Street.” Nervy Nat—" Give my regards to Broadway!” comicbooks.com