Judge, 1907-11-16 · page 10 of 16
Judge — November 16, 1907 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a slapstick comic strip featuring the recurring character "Nervy Nat," a scheming rogue. The narrative follows Nat as he flees from pursuing O'Toole and "his English lordship" through the woods. His attempts to evade capture escalate absurdly: he wades through cold water to destroy his scent, commandeers an unmanned steam-powered vehicle (a "Juggernaut"), and collides with statuary while running. The joke's resolution arrives when Nat literally crashes into the real O'Toole and his lordship. Rather than arrest or violence, they greet him warmly as an old friend. The final panel reveals Nat's true character: undeterred by the chaos he's caused, he attempts to bribe O'Toole to keep the incident out of newspapers. The satire targets opportunistic con-men and their shameless amorality—Nat causes destruction and trouble, then assumes money can erase consequences. His casual corruption reflects period attitudes toward minor criminals and the corruptible press.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
» 1, Nexvy Nat—* Goodness gracious! wno is this | am about to bump into? 2. Nervy Nat—"'I can surely hear their pursuing feetsteps. The other side O'Toole and his English lordship, or I'll eat my hat! Not for Nathaniel! of the woods for mine. I'll just hotfoot it toa more secluded spot. Gee! Great spuds! I've got palpitation of the heart already.”” wouldn't it be awful if they put the hounds on my trail?” 4. Nervy Nat—"This is not so bad. I'll just get scme speed out of this old Juggernaut. It was very accommodating for some careless person to | leave it lying around unhitched. It reminds me of my circus days, when | used to drive the steam piano." 3. Nervy Na This is awful, these enforced cold baths at this season of the year! However, anything to destroy the scent.” S. Nervy NaT—" Great Jumping Jupiter! a runaway—and a peach at that! 6. Nervy Nat (as he runs into the real O'Toole and his lordship)—"* Sufter- Why in blazes do they put pleces of statuary in the way? I'll have to take ing catfish!"* to the shrubbery aj If I'm caught in this compromising position I'll get “ At last, me b'y, we've got yez! Bustin’ statuary in the park life imprisonment. fit oe Bah Jove! but I've had a good run for me money. It's been blawsted extraordinary. | invite you all to dine with me on Thanksgiv- Ing Day.” Nervy Nat—"‘ Good, old sport! O'Toole, if I slip you a five-spot, you will see that this ts kept out of the papers?” |. }—NERVY NAT MEETS HIS OLD-TIME FRIENDS. NOTE.—The First Series of Nervy Nat's Ai nt ow ready, handsome! postage when ord: bound, in book-form. Price, 75 cents; 10 cents addi by mail. Address JUDGE CO) "ANY, 225 Fourth Avenue, New York. comicbooks.com