Judge, 1908-04-11 · page 16 of 16
Judge — April 11, 1908 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a children's comic strip from *Judge* magazine (1908) with no political satire—it's simply a humorous narrative about mischief. The plot: Teddy bears dig a pit, fill it with water, and set a trap with a string. They intend to catch Little Johnny, but his father walks into the trap instead, getting drenched. Johnny finds this hilarious and cheers as the bears panic and flee. The "teddy bears" reference is likely connected to President Theodore Roosevelt's popularity and the commercial "teddy bear" toy craze that followed a famous 1902 hunting incident. However, these bears appear to be generic cartoon characters rather than political caricatures. The humor relies on slapstick: the bears' trap backfires, catching the wrong person, and the child's amusement at his father's mishap—standard comedy for early 1900s children's entertainment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
uae LITTLE JOHNNY AND THE TEDDY BEARS. THE MERRY TEDDIES DIG A PIT-A TARTAR'S ALL THEY CATCH IN IT. 2 Oh, naughty Teds! They dig and dig And make a hole both deep and big. With water cold they fill the pit And tie a string in front of it. 3. ‘They raise the hose with careful aim— 4. Oh, naughty ‘Teds! Why should you joy No sound gives warning of their game; ‘To drench that good, industrious boy ? Nor does a sound the fact betray You'd best look twice before you do it, ‘That Johnny's father ‘s walked that way. Or else I fear that you will rue it! | f John, it is his dad 6. The bears decide they will not wait hes at them, hopping, mad To worry o'er their viet tight-drawn stri_ ~he stumbles, John watches them with gleeful face, Aad straightway in the ws cer tembles ‘And cheers them in their frantic race. t COFYR.GHT 1908 BY JUDGE COMPANY, PUBLISIERS, PIFTH AVENUE AND MADISON SQUARE, NEW YORK. ‘The First Series of the adventures of “Little Johnny and the Ted: is now ready in dy Bears” handsome book form. Price, 60 cents. Far sale by back Gealere everywhere: cx sent posipeld upon reeciptol peice by Judge Company, Fills Avenue and Madieon ‘Square, New York. comicbooks.com