Judge, 1907-04-06 · page 16 of 16
Judge — April 6, 1907 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This comic strip satirizes Nervy Nat, an apparent character type—a perpetually unflappable gentleman adventurer who accepts outlandish situations with unruffled composure. The humor centers on his casual acceptance of absurdity: he agrees to care for a monkey (supposedly a "monk" in broken English), then remains unfazed by the chaos that ensues—a baked Virginia ham dispute at a restaurant, a Frenchman's profane outburst, the monkey's crude behavior linking "man and beast." The satire mocks both Nat's affected gentility (obsessing over wigs and refined dining) and his obliviousness to social disruption. His catchphrase-like responses ("I quit refusing things years ago") suggest he's a well-known figure readers would recognize. The joke is that his cool sophistication masks complete indifference to propriety—he'll second a monkey's duel with a "hairless old reprobate" without hesitation. The exaggerated ethnic caricatures (Italian and French stereotypes) reflect period attitudes in Judge's humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1, ITALIAN: PeRson—" 2. Nervy Nat—‘‘ Thanks, awf"ly, old chap! This celery is delicious. Now. backa to Italia . Vil keep an eye to wind’ard for Caduc, and you go in again and see if you Nexvy Nat—"* This is most extraordinary, my dear Italian friend; but ll can't find me a half-portion baked Virginia ham, the kind that has brown take him. I quit refusing things years ago. Come to your Uncle Nat, Beppo, sugar and cloves on the periphery. and you and | shall go adventuring.” 4 bee 4. Wiotess person—‘* Sacré-bumpety-swa-kerslosh-gosh-swow !"* Nervy Nat—" For the love of personal adornment! a light bay wig! Nervy Nar—"* Come, Beppo: he's forgetting himself and saying 1 Beppo, you have very crude ideas of a gentleman's appetite. | have a pre- you and "can't stay and listen to and retain our self-respect. French cussi sentiment that what was under that lovely thatch will shortly be taking steps. is so insidious—you may think you're immune and pure-minded, and, biff! | think, under the circumstances, ‘twere best that | did the same ‘*—— you've caught it. Come!"” 5. Berro—* gaol ELI 6. Sercent Capuc—'If it was that | am not one officer | would not blame Nexvy Nat“ No. of course | don't want his old wig. Beppo. you are ‘on ze gentilhomme for dueling at you, Nervous Nat—yes!"" / at present the connecting link between man and beast. | need hardly desig- Nervy Nar—"'I'll be Beppo's second if he wants to condescend te/ fight nate which {s the beast. Can't you wiggle your tail and shake that persistent that hairless old reprobate. | have nothing further t . person off?" B i" om COrynan T 1907 8y 1UOGE COMPANY PuRUenens tx0 rouRTH ave. mew vom = NERVY NAT ACCEPTS A MONKEY, comicbooks.com