Judge, 1906-04-14 · page 18 of 20
Judge — April 14, 1906 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical comic strip mocking an American character's irreverent behavior at the British royal court. "Nervy Nat" is an American stereotype—brash, informal, and disrespectful of aristocratic protocol—who barges into Buckingham Palace and treats the King with comic impertinence. The humor derives from the clash between American democratic casualness and British royal formality. Nat ignores guards, addresses the King as a peer ("Ed"), threatens to "sic" him, and generally treats the palace like his own territory, even inviting the King to visit his New York club where "all of our members are on the bench" (likely a working-class reference). The satire targets American arrogance and perceived lack of refinement when encountering Old World hierarchy. It reflects early 20th-century anxieties about American upstarts challenging established European social order, presented here as comedic rather than genuinely threatening.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
L Nervy Nat—"' Say, is Ed up yet? I've got to see him, Beau. You're Nerv Nat—"'Oh, very well. Low bridge! There are other methods very impressive and all that, colonel, with your Easter bonnet and your of killing a cat than waltzing on its neck. | think | see Ed now, up in gold epileptics: but aside. like a good chap.” that second-story window, trimming his chinchillas. Guaro—"* Pass me good fellow. You carn’t enter—his majesty will not receive you. Beereater—": Hyer, hyer! Where are you going, sir?” Nervy Nat-—"'The first hobo of America greets the first gentleman Nervy Nat—"'Tut, Jo-jo! Don't bother me now, or I'll sic the king of Europe _ I hope the wife and the children are well? And how is par- on you, Don't you see his jamesty wig-wagging me with the royal mitt? Mament? By the that a night-stick you're smoking?” You can see | can't play with you now. Back up!" His majesty. aseegar. I'll get my things on and we'll take a turn in the back yal His wasestr—"' Well, Nat, I'm glad you called.” Nervy Nat—"‘Salute. you cockaded crustacean! Next time I come Nervy Nat—" Thanks, Ed: I've enjoyed it immensely. Any time here—if | ever do—I guess your manner will be a little more chastene? you come to New York let me know. “I'll put you up at my club—the If it isn’t I'll get Ed to put you to sweeping streets.” Madison-Square Park Club. All of our members are on the bench.” CoPrmbnt 1906 8y JUDGE COMPANY PUBLISHERS, 226 FOURTH AVE. NEW TORK NERVY NAT IN BUCKINGHAM PALACE.