Judge, 1908-06-13 · page 16 of 16
Judge — June 13, 1908 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1908 Judge comic strip plays on the popularity of "Teddy Bears"—stuffed toys named after President Theodore Roosevelt. The story follows Little Johnny as he uses his detective skills to catch a burglar. The plot: Teddy Bears kept in a henhouse are mistaken for eggs by a thief, who steals them instead. The smallest bear escapes and alerts Johnny, who then tracks the robber with a policeman. The final panel shows "Rastus" (the burglar, depicted in period racist caricature typical of 1908 publications) being apprehended. The satire appears to mock both the craze for teddy bear collectibles and, more broadly, the romanticization of detective work. Johnny's "great detective stunt" is largely accidental—dependent on a toy bear's lucky escape. The humor relies on the incongruity of treating stuffed animals as valuable enough to warrant elaborate burglary and pursuit.
📄 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. TOO OFT THE TEDS FOR PLUNDER HUNT-JOHN DOES A GREAT DETECTIVE STUNT. have heard, as I've heard, too, 2. So eager are they in their hunt can never be too new; They do not hear a noise i So wh here's no one ‘round they sneak, And father locks the door And eggs within the hen-house seek. Not dreaming that the ‘Teds are there. 3. But locks which hold the Teddies tight 4. The littl’st bear alone gets free Seem nothing to a robber’s might. And tells John of the tragedy. ef breaks in and, unawares, Then, armed with pitchfork and with lamp, Instead of hens, he bags the bears. The two track out the robber scamp. 6. And then the door’s flung open wide— that suppers 5 John and a policeman rush inside. adful are the of fear Poor *Rastus! you will sup in gaol— pears instead of hens appear. ‘The ‘Teds seem quite subdued and pale COPYRIGHT 1908 BY JUDGE COMPANY, PUBLISNERS, FIFTH AVENUE AND MADISON BQUARK, NEW YORK. iNeents. For sale comicbooks.com