Judge, 1908-05-16 · page 16 of 16
Judge — May 16, 1908 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a children's comic strip rather than political satire. It depicts a slapstick narrative: Little Johnny plays with animated teddy bears on a fair May day. One bear mischievously hits Johnny with a stick during a game of leapfrog. Johnny retreats up a tree to escape, where he encounters a goat. The goat, needing "no second invitation," charges down and attacks the teddy bears, scattering them and avenging Johnny. The bears are defeated; Johnny laughs at their comeuppance. The humor relies on simple physical comedy—a child being pranked by toys, then vindicated by an animal. The "Teddy Bears" reference likely appeals to the Theodore Roosevelt teddy bear craze popular since 1902. This advertises an upcoming book collection available for 60 cents, making it primarily promotional content for Judge Company's merchandise rather than social or political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Aide LITTLE JOHNNY AND THE TEDDY BEARS. THE TEDS GIVE JOHN A FEARFUL WHACK; AND THEN A GOAT SOON PAYS THEM BACK. 2. One naughty ‘Teddy finds a stick : And plays a very well-known trick. ‘Teddies play along the way. When it is time to vault John’s head At many games they have their fun, He spanks him with a stick instead. Though leap-frog is the fav'rite one. 1. It is so fair a day in May 3. Poor Johnny grins as best he may, 4. He waves to Billy then with glee, ay And very wisely shins a tree. The goat looks up with animation, And needs no second invitation. 6. John laughed so hard he scarcely stood, Now will you ‘Teds be good ?"* nat is there, ‘The smiling goat, departing, ran ‘Vo find a succulent tin ean, COPYRIGHT 1908 BY JULGL COMPANY, PUBLISHERS, PIFTH 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, Fitth Avenue and Madison Square, New York. comicbooks.com