Judge, 1906-06-16 · page 16 of 16
Judge — June 16, 1906 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This six-panel comic strip follows "Nervy Nat," an American tourist, crossing the English Channel to France with "A. Bounder, Esq.," an irritable English gentleman. The satire plays on national stereotypes: Nervy Nat is a loud, irreverent American who complains about English weather and transit, makes bizarre non-sequiturs (planning to "repeal the laws of gravity"), and shows no regard for social niceties. Bounder represents the prim, fussy Englishman constantly exasperated by American rudeness. The humor culminates when Nat accidentally causes Bounder to fall overboard—then immediately befriends the ship's captain, typifying the American's ability to charm his way out of trouble while remaining oblivious to consequences. The underlying satire mocks American tourists abroad: loud, self-absorbed, tactless, yet somehow always landing on their feet through brash confidence.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1. Nexvy Nat—" This English cilmate is beginning to rub the domestic finish off of my nerve. As the subway isn't finished, Ill have to cross the channel in the ordin'ry way. | think a few days on the boulevards of Lingerleville will add vim and bounce to my ganglionic system "— 3. A. Bounver, Es9.—"' Really, old chep, | was only Inquiring out of ‘Nervy Nat—‘Oh, yes; | know all about that, you fungus! But now that I think {t over, it seems for the best that you get out and walk. And the next time you notice a gentleman with an emerald-green complexion ‘and memories-of-childhood expression pass on—pass on!" A S. A. Bounper, Eso.—"' I say! you are a bit rough, y' know—eh, what?” Nervy Nat—‘ What! are you alive? Well. for Pete's sake! I've had many a fond hope shattered—many a busted drea: jut this ts the last hair on the tail of the limit! If my reservoirs weren't so full saline juice of the channel I'd tell you what I really thought of yo "2. A. Bounver, Eso.—""I say, old chep: feeling seedy—eh,.what ?" Nervy Nat—"* If you base your surmise on the expression of my map you are grossly in error. | always look like this when submerged In pro- found thought, I'am thinking up a way to repeal the laws of gravity, which must have been rushed through the senate when—— Sa-ay, what's It your business, anyway ?"" 4. Nervy Nat—"' Now, see what you've done! Isn't that just like an Englishman? Couldn't you see there was nothing to be galned by drag- ging me into this? There 1s no sane reason why this acquaintance should continue. All | hope is that they have enough humanity not to throw life-preservers over "—— 6. Nerve. Nat—~Ah, Calais at last, and Paris to-night! Say, the cap- tain {s all to the merry. He just tipped the bar up on end and emptied it In me and gave me this kimono and the stogie. I told him if he ever came over to the States to ask O'Toole for me.and 1'd give him the time of life.’