Judge, 1909-04-10 · page 16 of 16
Judge — April 10, 1909 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a humorous children's comic strip from Judge magazine (1909) depicting mischievous animal characters—the "Taffies" (possum characters)—playing a prank on a sleeping boy named Johnny. The narrative is straightforward slapstick: while Johnny naps, the Taffies decide to test his instructions by turning on a water faucet to drench him. They succeed in their mischief-making, startling Johnny awake in surprise and annoyance. The comic plays on turn-of-the-century American humor about animal trickery and childish pranks. The "Taffies" appear to be characters from popular children's literature of the era (referenced in the advertisement for "Teddy Bears in Fun and Frolic"). There is no discernible political satire—this is straightforward entertainment, likely appealing to young readers through relatable scenarios of animals causing harmless domestic chaos.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Auage- LITTLE JOHNNY AND THE TAFFY ’POSSUMS. \ THE TAFFIES PROVE THAT ALL ALONE THEY CAN INVADE THE MISCHIEF ZONE. | . 1. Quite tired out with work and play 2. So oft they "d been in mischi Young John was sleeping hard one day. ‘That they were well prepa ‘The ‘Taffies seging him at rest, Proposed to give young John a d Put his instructions to the test By bringing water from the sink 4 | \ if 4. ‘They seek the door when all is ready, Leaving the mischief-making ‘Teddy “Fo tum the faucet, start the stream, And interrupt poor Johnny's dreanr was sweetly, softly snoring, he water pouring. wide, 6. Up leaps the hoy, wrath and surprise ileam from his quickly-opened eyes. é He grabs the band, nor loses time Je. In asking if they planned the crime. COPYRIGHT, 1909 BY JUDOR COMPANY, PUBLISHERS, FIFTH AVENUE AND MADISON SQUARE, NEW YORK We Because of the great demand for the popular large-sized “Little Johnny and the Teddy Bears” book, we have exhausted our supply. have on hand, however, an attractively bound smaller edition, called “The Teddy Bears in Fun and Frolic,” which will be sent, postpaid, for 35 cents, on receipt of price, by Judge Company, 225 Fifth Avenue, New York. comicbooks.com