Percy and Ferdie — First Series collects short comic episodes built around two ambitious social climbers whose confidence is consistently much greater than their financial resources.

Percy and Ferdie present themselves as businessmen, actors, financiers, wealthy gentlemen, sophisticated travelers, and influential members of society. Their performances rarely last, however, because each new scheme eventually reveals that they have very little money or genuine status.

A recurring setting is the boarding house managed by Mrs. Pruhn, where the pair interact with other tenants and become involved in disputes concerning rent, food, heat, romance, and social appearances.

The collection begins with “Much Verbosity — Little Cash,” in which Percy and Ferdie have their shoes polished before discovering that they cannot afford to pay. Other episodes involve inspecting a house they cannot buy, losing a watch to a thief, going deep-sea fishing in a rowboat, working as shoe salesmen, pretending to be stockbrokers, posing as actors, and presenting themselves as powerful financiers. Grand Comics Database

The humor repeatedly comes from the contrast between the men’s exaggerated self-image and their actual circumstances. They want to live like wealthy gentlemen while struggling with ordinary expenses such as food, rent, clothing, and small bills.