Judge, 1907-06-01 · page 16 of 16
Judge — June 1, 1907 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This comic strip follows "Nervy Nat," an American reporter in Paris struggling to find newsworthy stories. The satire centers on journalism ethics: Nat complains that Paris newspapers lack English-language coverage of New York, then grows increasingly desperate. When his editor assigns him actual reporting work, Nat admits he'd prefer writing editorials for "thrills" rather than gathering real news. The humor escalates as Nat, finding nothing happening, considers fabricating stories—even referencing a Manhattan reporter who invented a tale "absolutely untrue in every detail" that was still published. He ultimately manufactures a crime story about a "brutal assault," complete with invented details ("tall, dark and very, very handsome"), which gets picked up as news. The satire mocks both lazy, unethical journalism and the arbitrary nature of what becomes "news"—particularly the invented, sensationalized kind that sells papers regardless of truth.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1. Nervy Nat—"‘Gee! these Paris papers are the limit. They are written 2. Eprtor or THe rarer—"* Certainement: we will engage you, m'sie in the worst English | ever sa:v. And nota peep about New York in any of can make a startings now. Co outside in ze street and get some news.. ‘em. I don't see a line about )"Toole. Wonder if he’s shifted to the Bronix ? Nervy Nat—''Oh, very well: only | had hoped—I had counted on writ- Believe I'll go get on this she .t and do some good English for them." ing editorials. But, then, a reporter's life is more exciting, and my tempera- ment Insists on its daily quota of thrills."* 3. Nervy Nat—" Gosh! nothing doing in Lingerieville this p.m. It's about 4, Nervy Nat—'' Well, here goes! I'll manufacture an item my self, Take as lively as midnight in Summit, New Jersey. Wish I wasn't cursed with a that, Caduc, but don't imagine I have any hard feelings toward you, old feller. down-east conscience. I'd make up some darned murder or a story about the 1 must have one story to take back to the office. | think ‘ Brutal assault upon reservoir being on fire. A reporter handed in a story to the Choinal once, in a sergent-de-ville ' sounds like the real fromage—what!"" old Manhattan town, that was absolutely untrue in every detail. They nearly used It." 5, Nexvy Nat—"'* Our genial townsman and popular guardian of the quiet 6. Nervy Nat—" "As t learn thi t Ys brutal ness was brutally and perhaps mortally attacked in broad daylight on the cor- assailant has been caught. This Purrclar lac great myst &0 as an be ‘does ner of Main and Spruce streets, Paris. When interviewed at the hospital, not look like the ordinary strong-arm man—in fact, his appearance, though Fosoanes Cate: was unable to throw any light on his assailant, So ex- shabby, is prepossessing; his manner and address excellent; his air that of the ception that he had noticed, as consciousness was beating it, that the brute going, cultured E ¢ was tall, dark and very, very handsome, and was holding an expensive butt in SRT -ENE citer ten, 96 Se. workk, “We hope tbe Jadge, will be leniect his throat’ SOPYMONT Ia? BY JUGGE COMPANY PUBLENERS 228 FOURTH AYE. KEW YORK NERVY NAT AS A] REPORTER: comicbooks.com