Judge, 1908-07-18 · page 14 of 14
Judge — July 18, 1908 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a children's comic strip morality tale, not political satire. "Little Johnny" is punished for mischief by being assigned farm chores alongside anthropomorphic "Teddy Bears"—stuffed toys brought to life, likely referencing the popular "teddy bear" craze of the early 1900s (named after President Theodore Roosevelt). The narrative follows Johnny's humiliation: reduced to child labor alongside the bears who shirk their duties, he attempts to milk a cow but is thwarted when a calf scatters the milk, leaving all the bears soaked and ridiculous. The moral message warns against pranks and laziness, with consequences affecting innocent companions. The strip is sentimental rather than satirical—typical of Judge's lighter fare alongside its political content. It's advertising a 60-cent book collection of the series.
📄 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. POOR JOHN'S FARM LABOR GOES TO WASTE, AND HE IS BY A CALF DISGRACED. 1. As penance for his naughty pranks 2 At milking time he dares not fail, Poor John 's reduced into the ranks. But carries home th He's given lots of chores and work, “Lhough on this eve Which all the bears take pains to shirk. He stops in a seclu 3. He sets the pail upon the ground, And mops his brow with groans profound. ‘The kindly Teddies also mop, She smells the nd Though they've not carried home a drop. Approaching with a hasty trot. see 6. Ah! L could weep their awful fate When “ma” gains knowledge of their state— A mournful crowd, all milky white, ‘The calf alone is happy quite, COPYRIGHT 1908 BY JUDGE COMPANY, PUBLISHERS, FIFTH AVENUE AND MADISON SQUARE, NEW YORK © adventures o! Johnny and the Teddy Beary” is now ready in handsome book form. Price, 60 cents. For sale verywhere, oF s paid upon receipt of price by Judge Compan: th Avenue and Madison Square, New York. comicbooks.com