Judge, 1908-04-04 · page 16 of 16
Judge — April 4, 1908 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a six-panel children's adventure story published in *Judge* magazine (1908). "Little Johnny" and anthropomorphic teddy bears accidentally become entangled in a hot-air balloon at a fair, then embark on an aerial journey northward toward their home. The narrative follows their mishaps: they're caught in an anchor-rope, the aeronaut falls (but survives), they navigate the sky, narrowly avoid a church steeple by flying too low over a city, and finally land safely to a crowd's amazement. The "Teddy Bears" reference likely evokes the then-popular stuffed toys named after President Theodore Roosevelt. This appears to be promotional material for a forthcoming book collection of the series. The humor relies on slapstick peril and the whimsical premise of toy bears as adventuring companions—typical early-1900s children's entertainment, with no apparent political satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Aiage LITTLE JOHNNY AND THE TEDDY BEARS. THEY TAKE A FLORIDA BALLOON AND REACH THEIR NORTHERN FIRESIDE SOON. 1. ‘The Teds and John attend a fair 2, ‘The aeronaut, surprised, alarmed, ‘To see a great balloonist there. Falls from his basket quite unharmed. But while eacitedly they look, The frightened ‘Teds, all hand in hand, ‘They're tangled in an anchor-hook. Ate whitled a mile above the land ! 3. But with vast bravery and skill 4. What joy to navigate the air ‘They shin the anchor-rope, until And race the birds and breezes there! ‘They're safe, and then, with one accord, The lands that far below them lay ‘They promptly haul poor John aboard. Alll seemed to race the other way. must end, the more’s the pity. 6, ‘The many ropes on their balloon ‘They flew too low above a city, ‘They tied together very soon And bumped, ker-smash! against a steeple. And slid to earth with manner proud, You should have seen the staring people! ‘The centre of a gaping crowd. COPYRIGHT 1908 BY JUDGE COMPANY, PUBLISHERS, PITH AVENUE AND MADISON SQUARE, NEW YORK. ‘The First Series of the adventures of “Little Johnny and the Teddy Bears” Is now ready in handsome book form. Price, 60 cents. For sale by book dealers everywhere, or sent postpaid upon receipt of price by Judge Company, Fifth Avenue and Madison Square, New York. comicbooks.com