Judge, 1907-08-17 · page 6 of 16
Judge — August 17, 1907 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This six-panel Judge comic satirizes a stock character—"Nervy Nat," a scheming con artist and social climber. The humor centers on Nat's outlandish lies and fraudulent schemes during a country fishing trip. The strip mocks: - **Class pretension**: Nat claims false British aristocratic credentials ("Lord Reginald Somerville"), fabricates fishing prowess, and invents elaborate excuses for his behavior - **Dishonesty**: He swindles fellow fishermen with a rigged fish-sharing deal, steals trout, and talks his way into lodging through transparent flattery - **Perpetual escapes**: Despite being caught repeatedly (by farmers with harpoons, suspicious hosts), he evades consequences through quick wit and running ability The satire reflects early 20th-century anxieties about social fraud and unscrupulous drifters. Nat embodies the "confidence man" archetype—charming but utterly untrustworthy. The comedy assumes readers recognize these transparent deceptions as obviously foolish, making Nat's success darkly absurd.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1, Nervy Nat—"' When a freight-train ts not handy this ts the next best way to travel, although it's rather hot and dusty. If O'Toole and that British gent appear I could easily draw in my head, like a turtle, Sorry the rules of the company prevent me from taking you in with me, Algernon: but cheer up— beyond the Alps lies Italy." pow 3. Nervy Nat—'* Asa sportsman | know what It is to play in hard luck, my friend: so here is my offer: For five plastres the lion's share of this mag- nificent string goes to you. | would willingly give you all, but | must show upat the country club with something finny, or my reputation as a fisherman Is lost. Proposition looks good, does it not? Thanks! If the goods are not satisfactory the money will not be returned.”* “Yes, Helen, my home fs In London: but the season over there, ye know, is so beastly dull. I thought I would take a flying trip to the states, and I've been flying ever since, just to do a little fishing, etcetera, and this is the result of my first morning's catch. How delicious! Brown a turn, and garnished with a little grass, assisted by the contents of your |: der! Do you follow me?” 2. Nervy Nat—“ Isn't this fortunate? | was wondering how long it would A huskier bunch of trout | have never seen. By ind with this cane I ought to be feeding now shortly. Ikey. continue that statuesque pose for one moment, will you? 4, Nervy Nat—'t Good-morrow, madam. Before you stands Lord Regi- nald Somerville. The unusual attractions of your place arrested my att tion, and if you will dust out the imperial apartments | will tarry a while. I presume your chef knows how to broil trout to a turn.” Mrs. Summersord—"* If you'll chain up that there bulldog of yourn, so’s he won't eat up my cats, I kin accommerdate ye. Nervy Nat—'' Medam, the deed shall be did.” 6. Farmer—‘‘So ye'll steal fish, will ye, ye pesky varmint?"* Nervy Nat—‘* It's rather uncomfortabie to get a man’s heart palpitating like this, especially after a fine breakfast: but the laughable part of the affair is that Josiah, just behind, thinks he can harpoon me. As the holder of the mile run in my college days, I've still got a race in me—and in this particu- lar race | am the one best bet. Algernon, annex Mr. Medderlot as soon as practicable.”* NO. II—NERVY NAT GOES FOR AN OUTING IN THE COUNTRY AND HAS A TROUT DINNER. COPYRIGHT 1907 RY JUDGE COMPANY, PUBLISHERS, 225 FOURTH AVE, NEW YORK. comicbooks.com