Judge, 1906-04-07 · page 16 of 16
Judge — April 7, 1906 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a multi-panel comic featuring "Nervy Nat" (a character name) encountering his facial double—an MP (Member of Parliament) named Stodgeworth. The satire plays on the common Victorian literary trope of doppelgängers (made famous in Katherine Cecil Thurston's contemporary novels, referenced in the text). The joke mocks British political life: an exhausted politician, returning from late parliamentary sessions, repeatedly encounters what he believes is his own ghostly double or drunken impostor. The comedy escalates through misunderstandings with servants and police, culminating in physical altercations the protagonist can't quite remember. The satire appears to target MPs' dissipated lifestyles and the chaos of parliamentary politics—suggesting politicians are so worn out and inebriated they can barely distinguish reality. The "beastly" opposition members and disorderly parliamentary conduct referenced reinforce the critique of institutional disorder.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
i] wll 1 Srovcewortu, M. P.—'* Wait for me, Callowby* it’s Just a short night session. Nervy Nat—“' By Katherine Cecil Thurston, if there isn't my double! Of all outrageous and uncanny things! Such effrontery—a miserable m. p. wantonly and unshamedly parading my facial duplicate! Just for that I'll give him a sassy scare. Jezus—" Lord love you, sir! wot ‘as ‘appened?”* Nervy Nat—*Now, don't take on that way. Hang it, man! get out of the way and don’t make a bally scene in the street. And you, girl, back into the house! You all stand gaping lke alot of wretched cat- fish!" ng ‘Sropcewortm, M. P.—"Am | mad? What Is that unshaven Image of myself upon the bed?" Nexvy Nar (half asleep\—"* Do | dream dreams, or ts that really my- self in the white choker? No: It can't be I, because {t stares In such an {l-bred manner, and it's 30 ostentatiously shaved. No: I will banish it from me thoughts. This comes of trying to blend crab-meat en casserole pardon, sir; but ‘as hanything ‘appened? Your happearance, sir, if you'll pardon me, sir" Nervy Nat—"'Home, Callowby. I'm not injured. There was a narsty bit of a row with the opposition. They're a beastly lot of Hooli- gans. This {s the larst time | stand for our borough, Callowby. Now, drive home; I'm worn out."” Nervy Nat—"Now you may go; and if | want to sleep in a sult of chain-armor it needn't call for any suggestions from you. Put those pyjamas back. And mark me, me man, the wretched premier may look for another party-whip. Such disgraceful scenes in the house as there were to-night | hope never to witness again! Now, good-night, and see that I'm not called till eleven in the morning.” Orricer Sut Come, wike up, now! Wotcher stoppin’ for Nexvy Nat—" Officer, a3 one gentleman to another, I'll come with you; but let me go back just a moment—I have simply got to kill that ahrimp of a footman. 1 must have been very drowsy: but, now that | think of it, as I was leaving somebody kicked me, I'm almost positive. e se: SOPYRGNT 1906 8Y 1006 COMPANY PUBLISHERS, 2 FOUR AVE, MEW OR