Judge, 1907-09-28 · page 10 of 16
Judge — September 28, 1907 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1907 Judge comic strip satirizes American confidence and resourcefulness through the character "Nervy Nat," a hungry traveler at a French roadhouse who cannot afford the menu prices. The satire works on two levels: it mocks both French pretension (depicted through exaggerated accents and snobbish waiters concerned about proper table etiquette) and celebrates American ingenuity. Nat solves his dilemma by sneaking into the kitchen, stealing a meal, and escaping over the wall onto a freight train—outwitting the "eccentric" Europeans through sheer audacity. The humor reflects early-20th-century American attitudes: superiority over "wicked French" establishments and celebration of quick-witted rule-breaking as a national trait. The Francophone dialogue (rendered phonetically for comic effect) reinforces the "foreign oddness" of European customs to American readers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1, Nervy Nat—" By the pipes of Pan! here is one of those wicked French road-houses. It is, at least two hours since | took in a cargo, and I am well- nigh famished. But the price! Ah, ha! I have one large-size, double- riveted idea." 3. Nervy Nat—"‘ Alphonse, in all my checkered career | have never en- Joyed a better dinner than the deceased one—no, not even in Paree. My compliments to the chef, and on your way back just bring another perfecto, sil vous plait."* 5. Nexvy Nat—'' Gosh, how easy! Yet I thought that board that creaked would be my finish. In about two or ‘three seconds I can see two of the most astonished Frenchles that ever speared a frog. Sorry I can't stay to study their expressions." Will not Monsieur le Lord Somerville take a smaller table? Zees is ze reglaire table d’hote !"* Nervy Nat—"'I should say nit. There is method in my madness. You just gum-shoe it to the larder, Alphonse, and bring forth the best—yes, Grouse, iced chablis—that sounds velvety. Do it now.” Le proprietaire—'* Ze millionaire eez eccentric."" 4, Nervy Nat—'* Here's the chance. if my lucky star doesn’t turn comet the rest is easy. It would be utterly innpossible for me to walk past that Gate-keeper without embarrassing situations. The subway for mine."* 6. Tue warter— Parbleu! I have been given one what you call ze lime: it is ze wizard | feed. He ees vanish!" Le prorrietaine—"' Sacre bleu! but zees Is linpossiblement.”* Nervy Nar (going over wall)—" Sorry I couldn't stay to enjoy that per- fecto, but there's a freight train due in four minutes." NO. 17—NERVY NAT, BEING HUNGRY, DINES AND GETS AWAY WITH IT. COPYRIGHT 1907 BY JUDGE COMPANY, PUBLISHERS, 225 FOURTH AVE., NEW YORK. NOTK.—The First Sert for postage when ord jes of Nervy Nat's Adventures ts now ready, handsomely bound, tn book-form. Price, 75 cents; 10 cents additional lered by mail. Address JUDGE CO) ANY, 225 Fourth Avenue, New York. comicbooks.com