Judge, 1908-12-19 · page 16 of 16
Judge — December 19, 1908 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a six-panel children's comic strip, not political satire. It depicts "Little Johnny" encountering mischievous teddy bears on an icy winter day. The narrative shows the bears causing chaos—they create an ice slide, pour water to freeze it, and play recklessly while Johnny approaches carrying wood (his assigned chore). The bears' slide collides with Johnny, sending him tumbling with a basket on his head. The bears abandon him without checking if he's hurt, exemplifying their "naughty" behavior as the subtitle promises. The strip appears designed as lighthearted entertainment about childhood misbehavior. The "Teddy Bears" reference likely alludes to the popular toy trend following President Theodore Roosevelt, though the bears here are anthropomorphic characters rather than political commentary. An advertisement at bottom promotes the storyline in book form, indicating Judge used this strip as marketable content for younger readers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Auge LITTLE JOHNNY AND THE TEDDY BEARS. THE NAUGHTY TEDDIES ON THE ICE SHOW A BEHAVIOR FAR FROM NICE! in cold December weather, 2. With growl and giggle, squeal and splutter hty Teddies got together ‘They poured some water in the gutter, And planned to have some liding nice And in a trice the water froze Upon a home-made pond of ice. And number one fell on his nose. 3. They slide about in greatest joy, 4. The Teds run off to slide once more Nor do they notice Johnny-boy And Johnny atrikes the slippery shore ; Who comes up slowly with the wood, ‘The Teds returning on their slide, For ‘tis his day for being good. With basket, wood and boy collide. 5. Poor John! the basket ’s on his head— He thinks that something 's strack him dead. The: 6. Hiding behind a handy corner, watch the miserable moumer. His basket 's broke, his wood is scattered, And he himeelf is bruised and battered. ‘The naughty bears at once desert, Nor atop to eee if he is hurt. COPYRIGHT, 1908, BY JUDOR COMPANY, PUBLISHERS, FIFTH AVENUE AND MADIBON SQUARE. NEW YORK. ‘The First Series of the adventures of “Little Johnny and the Teddy Bears” is now ready in handsome book form. Price, 60 wale by book dealers everywhere, or seat postpaid upon receipt of price by Judge Cou pany, Filth Avenue and Madison Square New Yorke comicbooks.com