Judge, 1907-07-06 · page 5 of 16
Judge — July 6, 1907 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This six-panel comic strip satirizes an American character named "Nervy Nat" (Lord Somerville) attending a British Fourth of July celebration at Jamestown. The humor derives from fish-out-of-water culture clash: Nat's exaggerated patriotism and American mannerisms clash with stuffy British customs. Key jokes include: 1. Nat boasting about being descended from Jamestown settlers 2. British guests' condescending responses about "old Rain-in-the-Face" 3. Nat claiming Americans invented various things (seemingly exaggerated) 4. Escalating chaos as Nat's celebrations become increasingly wild 5. The finale showing complete pandemonium during fireworks The satire targets American braggadocio and perceived vulgarity versus British reserve, playing on early 20th-century Anglo-American cultural stereotypes for comedic effect.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1. Recertion comurrree—" Welcome, distinguished guest! Nervy Nat— Howdy, pals? Blawst me! but it's quite an honor to have such a distinguished lot of old stiffs give one the glad hand, How’s the blooming show pulling?’ . 3. Nervy Nat—‘*So this Is the historic spot where my famous countryman almost had his block knocked off? Poor John! But for the charming Poca- hontas, the city directories of the country would have been minus agout 643 pages of Smiths.”* 5. Nervy Nat—' Fellow-hoboes, in responding (hic) let me po-prose some dope to the two bloomingest sports of the day, King Edward VII. and King Roosevelt I. Long may they wave (hic) and never commit race suicide; and may Fourth July (hic) come seventeen times a month!"* Overjoven Britons—'' Hear, hear! Bravo! Hurrah! Wow!" CComymint 1007 BY 2U00E COMPANY PUBLIBNER 228 FOURTH AYE. REW YORK 2. Escort—' And here, your lordship, ts one of the last descendants of the original American settlers of Jamestown.” Nervy Nat—"' Deucedly interesting, by Jove! The last one I saw was at Coopel & Slegermaker's, in New York. Old Rain-In-the-Face, what is your name in New York? Flanigan : Tue Descenpant— 4. Toastuaster—'‘ And now, gentlemen, | propose a toast to our distin- guished guest—our most democratic fellow-countryman "— Nervy Nat—‘*Sure! Coal up, sports! Don't mind me. | always take it this way when I can get It. ee Rens 6. Nervy Nat—“ An’, fellersh-bums (hic), when the "Merican eaglesh flew over the Firth-o'-Forthsh river an’ ate up the (hic) Honsh an’ unicornsh with one bite, an’ Georgsh Washington crossed the Amazon (hack) in Decem- bersh $8th, 55 B. C., an’ knoc(hic)ed the stuffinsh out of the Englishsh (hic) josh, an’ (hic, huc) ""—— or Brirrons—* Hi! too dem'd democratic "—— Nexvy Nat—"' Hurrah for Fourths July! Hurroo for O'Toole! Hurrah for everybodysh (hic, huc, hock)!"" NO. 5—NERVY NAT, AS LORD SOMERVILLE, IS THE GUEST OF SOME BRITISH FRIENDS AT THE JAMESTOWN FAIR, AND CELEBRATES THE FOURTH OF JULY IN A RATHER UNEXPECTED MANNER. comicbooks.com