Judge, 1908-06-27 · page 10 of 17
Judge — June 27, 1908 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This comic strip satirizes early 1900s seaside tourism and the public's gullibility about sensational attractions. The recurring character "Nervy Nat" creates chaos at a beach resort by shooting at what he *thinks* is the famous "sea serpent"—a creature that periodically captivated public imagination as supposed evidence of undiscovered marine life. The joke: Nat actually shoots at a motorboat towing beer barrels, mistaking it for the legendary monster. The hotel proprietor, however, cynically recognizes the publicity value—he praises Nat's "stunt" as excellent advertising, despite the danger and absurdity. The satire targets both credulous tourists desperate for exotic experiences and shrewd business owners exploiting their desire for thrills. The reference to potentially mistaking a ship (the Lusitania) for a whale underscores the recklessness of Nat's "adventure." Nat's final boast about being a "confirmed bachelor" adds comic deflation to his would-be heroic persona.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
2. Yachtuman—" By golly, boys! there’s the sea serpent. Luff her up, Bill, and we will get a half hitch round his tail. He's swimming some, too.” . ~ S . How fortunate for us!” 1. Bathers—** Oh, look! there's the sea serpent! 3. Cap'n Jona—" Pull like it enough to give him th’ old whale gun, is wuth a thousand dollars at th’ museum." 5. Nerey “Couldn't you see, you old barnacle! that you were shoot- 6. Feminine chorus—* Oh, girls! it's a real man!” ing ata motor boat with a string of beer barrels in tow? Nervy Nat—" Why, gewiss! Did you think it was a velocipede?” For y« p have naught but praise ; but, for the love of Mike! Hotel proprutor—* That was a great stunt, sir. It was worth a thousand ket your eyes focused, or you'll be mistaking the Lusitania for a whale.” to me in advertising. Pray take the best room in the house before the crowd comes. Nervy Nat—* Yours to command, Alphonse. But pray assure your hungry chorus that I am a confirmed bachelor.” NO. 50—NERVY NAT AS A SUMMER ATTRACTION. COrrRiGHT, 19%, BY JURGE COMPANY, NOTE.—The First Series of Nervy Nat's Adventures is now ready, handsomely bound in book form. Price, 75 cents; 10 cents additional for postage when ordered by mall. Address JUDGE COMPANY, 225 Filth Avenue, New York. USHERS, 225 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK. comicbooks.com