Judge, 1908-08-22 · page 16 of 16
Judge — August 22, 1908 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a children's comic strip with no political satire. The narrative follows a mischievous boy ("Smart Johnny") who discovers sleeping teddy bears beneath a tree. Finding them at rest, Johnny climbs a tree with a megaphone and startles them awake—intending to prank them. The bears, however, turn the tables: they chase Johnny, who flees in panic and ultimately ends up jumping into a water pump to escape. The joke is a simple comeuppance tale: Johnny's prank backfires when the bears pursue him in retaliation. The strip appears designed as light entertainment, promoting a book collection available for purchase through Judge Company. "Teddy Bears" references the popular stuffed toy trend, which had emerged following President Theodore Roosevelt's association with the animals around 1902-1903.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Aiage. LITTLE JOHNNY AND THE TEDDY BEARS. SMART JOHNNY SCARES THE TEDS AWAKE, AND FINDS HE MADE A GREAT MISTAKE 2. Hut naughty John espies them resting, And thinks it just the time for jesting. He climbs, with megaphone in hand, Upon a tree above the band 5. ‘The ‘Teddy Bears now laugh and shout To sce poor Johnny run about, Until at last, with feap and jump, He drowns his troubles at the pump 8. PIPTHE AVENDE: AND MADISON SQUARE, NEW YORK, COPYRIGHT IAN BY JUOGE COMPANY, PUBLISH ine Firat Series of the adventures of” Littie Johnny and the Teddy Beare” le now ready in handsome book torm. Price. ¢0 cents. For sale ‘Square, New York. \ yy book dealers everywhere, or sent postpaid upon receipt of price by Judge Company, Filth Avenue and Mad! 7 comicbooks.com