Judge, 1907-05-18 · page 5 of 16
Judge — May 18, 1907 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This comic strip follows a character named "Nervy Nat" through various mishaps on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The humor centers on Nat's awkward social interactions and physical comedy: he encounters a woman (possibly "Mother Durand"), gets mistaken for a naughty fellow by Sergeant Caduc, and struggles with Parisian etiquette and activities like automobile rides and swimming lessons. The satire appears to target American tourists abroad—their cluelessness, social gaffiness, and inability to navigate foreign customs. "Nervy Nat" represents the stereotypical bumbling American abroad, causing embarrassment through his behavior. The repeated references to his "nerve" and impropriety suggest Judge magazine was poking fun at American tourists' brazen rudeness compared to European standards of conduct.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1, Nervy Nat—‘1 must be getting childlike and bland again, or else one of _2. Nervy Nat—'‘ Ah! here comes good Mother Durand, hustling like every- those cerebral-tornadoes is coming on, because I feel really jokeful and tricky. thing to get home in time to prepare those lovely snails for papa’s dinner. Don't you see. yourself, the possibilities which lie dormant in this innocent- Shall | warn her, like a good Christian? No: | think not. I don't exactly looking pond of glue?” admire her style, so I'll just let her get hers. Ain't | awful, Mabel ?"* 3. Nervy Nat—' Nathaniel, you're a naughty fellow! Gee! she looks as 4. Sercent Canuc—'‘ Is it zat you have a hand in zis outrage, Nat?” if she was trying to do the outer edge. | wish mother could see her. Mother Nervy Nat—' Tut—positively tut! Don't stand here bandying bent Eng- always shrieked with laughter at jokes on other women. But,then, mother was lish with me, but go do your duty. Salome, over there, doing the dance of an exceptional woman. I am a sentient and respiring proof of that—what!" the seven automobile veils, requires your assistance. At least go give her a swimming-lesson.”* aH Marr. 5. Sercent Capuc—'* She is to ze path nailed—yes? In all my lifehave! 6, Nervy Nat—‘*Caduc, mon ami, | salute you! There is nothing | admire such heaviness felt—no!” more than an officer sticking to his post, at whatever cost. Don't lean over Nervy Nat—'“I'll bet she’s been eating sinkers. Joking side-tracked, | that way. It looks so impossible it jars on my esthetic sense. Besides, old think it is pure stubbornness. But persevere, Caddy: and while you're busy man, it's an awful strain on your knee-pans. Ta, ta! T'll go and rob a couple of houses.”* NERVY NAT POURS GLUE ON THE CHAMPS ELYSEES. COPYRIGNT 1607 Y JULGE COMPANY PUBUOMEAL 215 + OV-ITH AYE, NE@ YORK comicbooks.com