Judge, 1908-07-11 · page 16 of 16
Judge — July 11, 1908 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a humorous six-panel comic strip about a boy ("Johnny") and toy teddy bears who sneak into Central Park despite a "No Animals Allowed" sign. When a policeman spots them and gives chase, he's distracted and falls into a trash can ("dustbin"), which then rolls into a lake. The joke culminates with the soaked policeman emerging from the water while the children taunt him, suggesting the "saucy Teddy Bears" have outwitted authority. The humor relies on slapstick: the pompous cop's comeuppance through an undignified accident. The teddy bear reference likely reflects the popularity of "Teddy Bears" as toys following President Theodore Roosevelt's hunting exploits (the teddy bear was named after him around 1903). The cartoon mocks both the strict park rules and the foolishness of an adult authority figure outmaneuvered by children and toys.
📄 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. A COPPER THREATENS THEM WITH WRATH, AND TAKES AN UNEXPECTED BATH. 1, John and the ‘Teds, off on a lark, 2. And quick a policeman comes in sight, Proceed at once to Central Park. Which gives the ‘Teds an awful fright. ‘They start to wander through a glade, “No animals allowed!" they cry, But see the sign above displayed. And turn and toward the entrance fly. 3. Right past a city sweep they scoot, 4. His headlong rush sta , ‘The policeman dashing in pursuit. And so, amidst the jeers and squeals He does not see that sweeper man, Of all the animals at large, ” And tumbles blindly in the can. ‘The can and policeman lakeward charge. 6 Out jumps the policeman, mad ‘The Teds and John still shouting “* Bath !* Oh, Johnny, hasten! dies, run! ght to the water like a flash, For if you're caught you'll rue your fun, id then there comes an awful splash. hs aren't allowed within the park !"" saucy Teddy Bears remark. COPYRIGHT, 1908, BY JUDGE COMPANY, PUBLISHERS, FIFTH AVENUE AND 4A°™80N SQUARE, NEW YORK. comicbooks.com