Judge, 1906-08-25 · page 16 of 16
Judge — August 25, 1906 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical comic strip mocking an American tourist ("Nervy Nat") recklessly driving through Paris in a motorcar. The humor centers on his arrogant incompetence and disregard for local laws and safety. Nat boasts about his borrowed "motor-boots" and powerful vehicle while endangering pedestrians and police ("Caduc," likely a French officer). He nearly hits a policeman, dismisses traffic rules, and ignores speed limits—all while speaking in exaggerated, affected English ("eh, what?"). The satire targets: American tourists' cultural pretension and disrespect abroad; the dangers of early automobiles; and contempt for French authority. Nat's inability to stop his vehicle becomes a running joke symbolizing his complete lack of self-control. The French characters speak in caricatured accents ("Sacré créme d'asperge!"), reinforcing period stereotypes. Published in *Judge*, this reflects early-1900s anxieties about automotive safety and American tourists' perceived arrogance in Europe.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1, Nervy Nat—""My very good friend, the Duc de Cottage-Pudding, has kindly lent me his motor-boots for the afternoon. Awfully good sort. the duke, even if he does wear a dress-suit to breakfast. When these Parisians see me snorting down the Shawns-Elysay they will sit up a bit— eh, what?” 3. Nenvy Nat—“‘Ah, there's Caduc! Toujours la police | if he doesn't waltz to the side a bit I'll go right throug h him between those two rows of buttons. The poor fool doesn't realizetha t these automo-sneakers of mine are about thirty horse, eight mule, and th ree Sheltland-pony power""— 5. Nenvy Nat—"Well, by Jove! I never went through the Illustrated magazines s0 hurriedly tr my life.” ‘That ts the only way, though, for a respectable, high-minded person like myself to go through these French publications” — Peat 1908 8YJ0B8E COMPANY PUBLISHERS, £26 FOURTH AE EW YORK NERVY 2. Nervy Nat—" Frightfully sorry and all that sort of rot, old chap; you should have remembered to stop. look and listen. This isthe Nervy Nat limited. I’m all parlor-cars, and make no stop between the Place de I’Etoile and gosh-to-goodness knows where"”— 4.” Seroent Canuc—"Stop! If not, you will collision among those newspaper kiosh."* Nervy Nat—"'My dear Caduc, nothing would appeal to me more— the word is so opportune, so in harmony with my dearest desire. The very sound of the monosyilable ‘stop’ thrills me. But, hang it all. old man! that is just what I can't do.” 6. Sercent Canuc—'' Sacré créme d’asperge! Do not you knowledge zat you ze limit of speed exceed ?"” know many things, Caduc. 1 know that it's broad daylight and the stars don't come out till dark; but, Caduc, old feller, 1 don't believe it."" NAT ON WHEELS. comicbooks.com