Judge, 1906-10-13 · page 16 of 16
Judge — October 13, 1906 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This multi-panel comic strip satirizes pre-World War I spy paranoia and French military security anxieties. The narrative follows "Nervy Nat" (an American character) as he attempts to help French officials expose what he believes is a German spy disguised as an English clergyman. Nat suspects the man is concealing plans of Paris fortifications. The satire operates on multiple levels: Nat's bumbling attempts at espionage create chaos; French Sergeant Caduc is portrayed as both incompetent and reluctant; and the "fortification plans" plot device reflects genuine contemporary concerns about industrial espionage and military secrets during the pre-war period. The humor derives from Nat's meddling zeal contrasted against French bureaucratic indifference—ultimately, after disrupting Caduc's leisure time, Nat decides heroic duty "doesn't pay" and abandons republicanism for selfishness. The joke satirizes American naïveté and exaggerated spy-hunting fervor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
I shail make a stab for the Legion of Honor college pin. That young chap Tis a fact—I can tell by his sneaking expres- ls a German spy disguised as an English curate, and that paper he sion. Call Caduc, and—'sh !—give me a duplicate key to his room—then, covertly glances at is a plan of the fortifications of Paris."* in order not to make a scene, we will wait till he goes to his room and then pounce on hi 3. Sercent Caouc—" Sacré feelay de buff = reichl (Se Nervy Nat—*' Now, save up some of those choice and assorted cuss- he is trying to conceal the plans in the waste-basket. The jig s up, words for the contretemps. He may have suspected something and de- friend. “If he moves an eyelash, Caduc, shoot him down as you would a stroyed the papers, in which case search his belongings for wienerwurst chauffeur!” ne would convict him!"" it 13 to laugh! Those fortification plans are 6. Sercent Capuc—“' You have me called away from a game of piquet es? It is that it is a funny paper: you have ze wrong tail by ze just for zis—you are arrest!" peeg Nexvy Nat—"' Hereafter, Caduc, I shall lead a selfish life; it doesn't Nervy Nat—"* Folled!"* pay to try to do things for republics!" Sonewover money auose cowpany romenene, ew rounTH Avis MEW YOM NERVY NAT AT THE ELYSEE PALACE HOTEL. comicbooks.com