Judge, 1907-10-05 · page 16 of 16
Judge — October 5, 1907 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a children's comic strip playing on the popularity of "Teddy Bears"—plush toys named after President Theodore Roosevelt, who became a cultural phenomenon in the early 1900s after a famous hunting incident. The joke: Little Johnny and anthropomorphic teddy bears go fishing. When a hunter sits nearby eating lunch, Johnny attempts to "fish" for the food. The bears emerge from hiding, startling the hunter so badly he flees, leaving behind his rifle, gun, and bunny. The humor derives from the unexpected twist—instead of catching fish, they catch a frightened human—and the visual comedy of numerous bears chasing off an armed adult. The "teddy bear" reference would have been immediately recognizable to 1907 readers as a cultural craze. The satire gently mocks hunting culture while capitalizing on the teddy bear's enormous popularity with contemporary audiences.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Suaye LITTLE JOHNNY AND THE TEDDY BEARS. THEY GO FISHING AND GET SUCH AN UNEXPECTED “' BITE’ THAT EVERYBODY 1S SURPRISED—THE HUNTER ESPECIALLY. john and the Teds have got away 2. A hunter strolls along, you see, ‘fish along this stream all day. And sits down by a neighb'ring tree. And don't they make a funny sight, That lunch stirs Johnny's appetite, All walting for the fish to bite? And now he's fishing for a ‘*bite.”* 3. When Mr. Hunter turns around 4. Straightway he thinks there's something wrong There ‘s nothing but the empty ground. i He has along How lunch and boxes got away A bottle, as most hunters do, The frightened sportsman cannot say. And glad he is that it's full, too. 5. Six fearful bears behind a 6. You bet the hunter-man lights out. Will give most any mana 5 At every jump he gives a shout, And to tipsy man, of course, While Teds and John, the little rap, Each bear is bigger than a horse. Lug off his bunny, gun and cap. COPYRIGHT 1907 BY JUDGE COMPANY, PUBLISMERS, 225 FOURTH AVE. NEW YORK. comicbooks.com