MR. PUNCH IS AT HOME

Evening Post, Issue 145, 22 December 1928, Page 17

MR. PUNCH IS AT HOME

A CALLER FROM NEW ZEALAND LIFE STORY OF A GREAT INSTITUTION (Written for "The Post" by Seatoun Gordon.)

-,«<What;.is.mind'?"—"No '.matter:^, ;"."What.ismatter? "—f'Never mind.''" Long since' Mr. - Punch recorded this ■ brief converse 'between a harassed,,fa-' . ther .and :an. inquiring son.. t,;Had tho" '-. small' youth, had- the quick inspiration ' !•'..'',to: inquire,.'flWhat.iis, humour?."rr-what, :;: were;,th'e. answer? ;v.-.v>.'i .■<.).■::; ■-..■:■ v :\t- •■.■•''■■•'• -On. calling recently," it was my lu&k, „- „ niy. Vyery' .exceptional'- luck, to"1 .find Mr. ■ .Pimch ."At:Home." , •■.; . -.:-.-.;-. ■■. \ ■ ■'.' Now, contrary: maybe to: 'popular ■-'opinion, LMr. Punch himself.is of a-very ...unassuming and retiring .dispqsitipn.,He. ,)' has but little "small-talk; only on' .;: :Vory great; occasions; does" ho obtrude' " Vhis'"own: personal being upon tho public' •■: Therefore 'tis-his-smile, his; frown,, his /.righteous wrath,' carry such weight. But ■ :he'has now, and has ever kept round. ' him a staff skilled; in : prose -and verse,'. .of immortal witchery in: pen and. pencil '■'.■"Work;" and -through these'/hc.'.is 'content; r'/ito^use the magic th,a,t makes -Us laugh"; and'weep and think, and^seo and under* stand .things illuminated ...with .tho^ce--. „':lestial.liglijt of humour. •'; Things.:. we' • :■■ might- pass over, to our. everlasting 'loss, .'// but for Mr.:.Ppich. '<„..!' '';.'.';■■'"■;.'■■.'■'> -;. ' '..'■' To me, hovspolie actually but little.; '; He said, in effect, "Here are liiy bir.th. 'and baptismal certificates. "Hero-: my. ' proofs .that I am an hoiiqsfc; and self-" "■■' made man.;. Here are' somo of thecuri-; ous happenings of my youth—here some', of my lamentable mistakes—here somo, of"jtho rebuffs to my conceit. Yoncjer .ore my family ■portraits,, my -priceless specimentß of their woi\k; ; and■ presents'" from ardent admirers of my, endeavour.. 1 shall show you, too, where my weekly-' issues and my famous almanacs : arp; born.". Then, with 'a .bow —-the es-; ■ ■"' senije. of inborn chivalry—he. placed the lnatorial^ of verification.of his hu,niblo, speech before, inc. ' 'Before leaving me, however,- ho; did me: a little ' but much: .appreciated' kindness;: --■■ It; was ■to per-. . ..mit me to sit: at his..! ..famous... ...table—7. ■•••''Thackeray's Mahogany Tree—-whereon ■ -are carved the- initials of'innumerable ■ illustrious members of his family, and to write there a note to my editor, stating that I was submitting this talk for', his consideration. - Pondering which hallowed place to take;'T thought .of1 ' Phil May's—whose memory is so precious to. all of us in tho Sunny South.:lt'; "would be the only occasion, on which a' caller has been accorded\such a privilege. ■' '• i. ■• -."' )'.'' ". '■'-' ■ ■ '•■' :'. :.'-, .-: „. INFANCY.. : :. , : '.•.•: /-;/ .■. riPunch.'s own' character, as well as '.the. fac-similo copies- of- various docuVnients, show.that he ;was;b.orn of highly, respectable'-.. parents. .In fact; altogether too. many-wantcd.;to,claim par- , entage. They v lit,, luckily,; upon one ''Mr. Henry Mayhew,;-;who said/in'other words, let us:band 'together and be the. collective father. ,' This'was- done, and in Punch Office hangs a facsimile of. ; their agreement; full i: of'whereas and . these presents,'-and sb . on, very formal.. It is shown, too,'how the-infant was to' bo called by many names. The last chosen was scratchod out; and the- docu-. -. mentcshows.Jt ■-.■with, Piinelt—.thft^only;: '"' I ham c~writt enj:tiy. er it;?1 ■ Then there was so littlo money ih; the family rth'at one.or,two'thought the tiny, fellow 'would fade 'aWay:.' "■ There" were'gravcy discussions. as to sufficient paper wrappings for his Tjodyj; and; printers' ink for .his.-sustenanc.e.v. Prodigy that vhe ■'■ was, the. infant' must.' have gurgled, ;■''Team ' i w6rk^.'.b6ys,;,,teahy; ; work,'.'. .'al--.'...-.'most.as so'onas he was born.;' This was in July, 1841.. ;The team, having been /thus pulled' together, .and :; soon found that the youngster^s'; e'ircu- . lation responded to .the figures 6000, 'but that' the figures 10,000 were .necessary :to keep him. alive. /, What, was- to ■/ b;e : dono9; ; The/first ,"happy thought?' . .occurred, ■•■v^n ialmanacj or Christmas number was-proposed:.: a -feast, of* wit and wisdom.'.'Legend, loving the.curi-^ ...' oils, persists1 that'the!;almanac,. which' raised tho/direulation.'to '90,000, -was chiefly the work of a Dr.'Gfrattan, .incarcerated, for.the time being, in,the Fleet* Prison —but' able.'.to hold communion with Mark . Lemon, | chief of staff, and'others. "This (and its varia;tions) is hardly to be credited, team . work in .the;,fainily'.;being '-more :likely-• ' .'responsible for. the'success.' . >,-z-:% . Thence, :th'6 tide, has .never turned, and the stripling Punch, has grown with "Britain's growth,; and broadened with her .breadth; has sung her re- - quienis and celebrated her triumphs'; rebuked her indifference ."'or- her": pessimism, and-brightened the mirror of her '' •. 1. .-' ••' ■ '.''':.■•: SOME OF THE GREAT ONES GONE; At the. age "ol "'one, or; thereabouts, ./Bunch, had Mark Lemon, Douglas "Jerrbld, and W. M. • Thackeray,1' working in his sovereign, interests. Lemon ..-.was.;,a,, nian lovable, of a great andkindly heart. "; 'Perhaps to" him'is duo• the indefinable but immutably fine "tradition"'of Punch. In the.chiyI''airiS'language of tho. Maori, we;;might say his "inaiia." -'Thackeray-' >ras young,-.versatile, ambitious. . Jerrold . .was a'uiaii of infinite,,if sometimes biting, jest. He and Thackeray worked. together-in friendly enmity. Thackeray,; with his pool broken noso was once teported to be '.'turning Boman." Jer'.rold suggested at once/he "should begin, •ivithhis nose." Lemon, .master editor that he was, found Thackeray's first i series of. papers .in.', "Punch, unsuccessful.; Many later.contributions live ... still,: b.ut' this. first effort was cut but, .unfinished." 'In these' days Two havo' a . .cloudy-vision of Dickens "in "Punch." He-wrote only one small item, which :' Lemon rejected. ' His -real, connection ,was. 0n0..0f friendship and collateral, business, with" Messrs." Bradbury and, Evans, the then.".Punch." owners. They had a largo interest in the . "Daily News,'.' of which Dickens was first editor.- They, too; were- the first pub: lishers ,of : the novels of both Thackeray and Dickens,;so the .con-ftectibris of ;tho names are all very close. Dickens' rejected contribution was found years .....afterwardsand included in fae-simile in'that splendid'(but almost unprocur-j.; able)'yolume, Spielmann'.'s )" History of. Punehi"-'-'" That hardy- heresy' as to . the jealousy between. Thackeray . ;and ■Dickens is dispelled by Mr. Punch. ,One ' .day; Thackeray came in .to: Mar)c Lemon :' ; .,,with the. latest" 'serial' nuniber..: , of, •V: f'D6mbey : and Bon.'? ,;in' his,.-hands.' ito :. smacked-.-it...d0wn,..0n. .the^table,/f 'It's stupendous': : Unsurpassable! ;i Tlidre's! ■."■■no-;wnting -against■ .such /power '• as ' 'this!" ■■''It was- the; account • of; the ;d6ath iiof" vLittle Paul;;', Theru is an ; bft-rbcorded story of Punch witti^ Dickens. :, This is ; untrue/Puncli" : ■Shad no sharp in it.; .During his editor,.ship of: "Homo' Words,."/ Sickens; /thought .fit ..to. make, public somo ; expressions as t.o his domestic infelicities, in that journal. On the .friondliost footing with Messrs. Bradbury /and ;Svana, old and-tried business col leagues, is took runbrage that they,,of: thsir own volition, did n.ot open ;: p*Pii'n'ch'as>"' "pagea for I'he ' airing ,of . his Sronbi*. .Biglitly, with "Punch'a" <wj:n«iJaßj4 t»t6, they/would not: ospec- -" aliiE:a» Mfe/'»" gapeK. ■'' ''gTime -and

f.iipnds /..ultimately;/healed1 tire; -broach, as';.withess-"Punch's'.'.''splendid: lanient afc the. great ...■writer's, doath.. .;:.,...:-. ' 1 PUNCH'S liAKES AND PENATES. "' The" ever -young old gentleman has had several: homes. GFor'./some picturesque years it was-at the Crown Inn, in -Vindgar Z-^ard,' by^-Drury -lian'di-'V side' tlie-'ihh was'^he^ eatiiig-hquse famous -as' tho "Whistling/Oyster/".. It is true that the perplexed-proprietor did actually, hear, one;bn/a .plate of. oysters whistle. He; ;rushea;;:put and "got witnesses to.provo itt—arid his.sanity. Prom the I ..'.projvn''; Punch- moved.'off- to 11, Bouve'rie'street,1' arid- thence to- No. .10, itfthat'sanie street in/.Whitefriars.. It :is';]iere ) vlon:'.i^:;four\'.stbuf;''legs; stands the ;'deai-t6pped.tablq'-';th-:.;<)riq..and'.only Mah'ogaiiy ' Tree, "so1; .';TCr'aTJpe;d/ /: with Punch's story-T^ahd /at. which tlii's 'huiiiblo clir.olncleA','sat;.reyerbntly the other -.day.. i-The' famous 4dinners, ,goqd nierital - aiid'-riiaterial.fare^-a's "-witness ■ Punches o\vn fa'ce.-T-gnw/-, / as-,inost-. good . things have grbTviii'u'y^cvolutip'rir.'ln the earliest . days,.:.of. all,': the: leading spirits ,_iuet :.a,fjiibsf;;;aiiglftjy—-in ■_• their, struggles- for '. sueebssi' v..;They;.igathei'C(l /.tlicn.- at >' ;the isigri-of '.'La Selle:Sauvagoi"jstill.show--ing at the fqot'.of.Ludgato Hill;, where Messrs.; CassellsVlbng-hold sway-inr'tho -book'wbi'ld. •'•'.Tlieri:ce,'fas- we. have said, ,tq. the ,";Cr-own^','-a'rid last, to Bbuvcrie. street. •As ,tinie;, passed:'tho meetings' of ."bwrieYsi/cditbr, s and-staffiregu'larised •themselves' -irito/.th'e'"Wednesday night dijihersv, -'There;'.sittirig^rqurid • the"-iin-mprtal. board, "w.erefdiscussed; the. 'Ibig. 'cut"^f-thb "[large/ cartbqn;-:'fot-- t'ho'':'cbin.-'. ing^WS,^Ji''"aud^aU;'SH?)}?^bntingqit .yni\i-., .;tprg'as/Te.quirc.d'.i^.l^wknder.ed.f.bund -to. 'tbuch^tTie' historic-: moribgriims:"' Thadk-" -cray^/BerJiarii"Partiiclg'e, /Lucy, , Kcone, Teimieljr]!!. T.'Keedy .; Pliil..!May) arid:; -many-another, :do'\ra-;t;q"th'e-^'O.S.''rof-Sir-; Owen - Seamari-^kii'whoso disrespectful, head-tho Kaiser1 put'a-'piieef-iii^liis. 'i. All-Highest ■■ days.- ''> -Small:- wonder thb;tablq'goes whither Mr. Piiiich-goes.- ---* Ebuiid, this1 ■room';'"arb' -pyer. fifty • pbr-> -traits,of tho lriighty^inen—small'mostly,. 'or thq;'space; \yould not. hold' them,' -from the,.earliest/down""'to Dii Maurier,'Fufr," niss,.,- Lugyj'.'.Sambqur'nej/.Biirriarid, ,:an.d ■P-hil,.May,;with"ihis' Dolly,-Ya'rden fringe'—those"are biit-a/few. Here'-liangs"/too',-Dicky.. Dpyje'sL-design for . the Punch ■ cover/'unaltere'd-since; 1849, and still'so suitable; If you 'scan; the: swarm .of sur-rounding-.'imps,.you-will see only one is in complete .reppse; dumbfounded at the "advanpes.bf/the.rpgub/a.t her /feet. ''Shehas; perched;'theso.-;eiglity years ;<m/-top ;of, .tlic.;-.letter •• C. : /.;Tho ::.walls:..are-,,cov-ered, below the portraits,::with picture and cartpon in the original peiv'qr'peri/cil work:';an exquisite: collection;'-:iHere, also,.is;'. ;: '/ '■•' -'■;■.■'■■■'■ ''■'■■/■;■■■'..• - ... 'THE ROYAL WARRANT. The parchment with, the -Royal Arms, ; tho.seal, the»sig'natures,,looks. perfectly .genuine.. How Pjinch .".acquired??- it is still untold history. .However,-, the imposirig^thjrig./is ,-there, 'framed^ 'siin^cicntly.'aiitlibntie ,f or fit's :high purpose.: It. reads .ioleinnly: '.These", are to ;require :y.oii tb ; swear, and. admit . .:'.7. Master ■Punch...:'..". into the place arid quality ■or-•;• Joke. Maker Extraordinary to Her Majesty .'. ; .-, to have;exercise and. car '•joy;.the ;said" Placo/together .with all rights, .profits, privileges,' arid- adyan--.tagos 'thcffauiito beloriging;'. '. Arid for: so /dpiiig* tliis1'.1 shall:;.bc .ybur '.AVari^it;^ >,' j' Given.-'-iindet my hand and'.seal'this first, day of April, 1543, in the ■sixth;'-y,ear of Her Majesty's Eeign.. .. . ; '(Herbvarc; attached seal and.signature) ;'.; .•'-,':,To: ■Her Majesty's, ' Gentleman 'Usher,: in daily .waiting..-. „ . Master Punch*'has been sworn and admitted1 in-conformity with the abov-e 'Warrant... / ■„; ' ".?..),■■•' /.Nearby, hangs a, rarity: it" is 'an used cartoon. It shows a very undignified ..position for a; party of dignified" 'British, genfleincn,. since they are 'floiiii1-"' doring-.'•■confusedly in' "tho/'Suez Garial,: crying to the. wide world 'to help them out. It was drawn at the time of Disraeli's cleverly covered purchase of old bankrupt Ismail's shares in the Canal Company^ The first impression, was' ■that■ England had ' 'fallen in.''.■ .;'Puncli alertly>;refleeted it, Ibutvequally. quickly,; saw' the change of opniion and withdrew it. Hence it hangs still, an ornai ment",of.home.;:; ■.';..■'.;.:'■ .-..:/ . ■'■ -. ■ ,A.beautiful specimen-'of -Te'nniel's worlc-is The Knal Hetit at the, National" Spring.Meeting' of/1874... Disraeli and. Gladstone'are charioteers.,/;AV. G. i is down .and' out, ehaript overturned, and :the hated "Tories" ,up,and in. ..Now. a'.-perfect./gem .of 'prehistoric work" by E. T. Eeed catches the,eye. Punch's Staff, 'at 'a picnic lunch, are being fdeyoured-. by-.a/'genially, nightmare collection of"Prehistbritfs.": In-'the foreground Mr. Phil-May is being drawn, :feet .first, down.;,, a capacious throat.1 Sev. smqk'es;. a fat ■: cigar,;: arid.; ;skpt'ch'es' ithe loving;^expression .'of the'1 beast's eye,' as ho ;i gQes.': ! .To .the...credit/of .the -party,' tfiejr:..all.'.appear!'..tb nie'ef; their. 1 ate Syith a;Christiaii—n'bt to say. a liilarious-4ro-sign'atibri:'; . : ■■'". '■■ ■/' . Nearby is a.drawing, now almost' as-prehistoric,-ty L. Eavon Hill., In a jv.il'. Jagp streetj.'.with "backgrpurid of yolcelSj tho; owrier--.of' an/. early"mbtor-ear ..-,a'p-. proach'es;.'Ms"'."v.i'q_lently;'palpitating and' back-firing; machine/ .pitchfork in hand,''1' ready to-'dofend himself to the last-^-at ■the., same -'time reassuring '-the- yokels,. "There's rib 7need.tq' ; be alarmed, it will, bo.' alright "■as i saoa." its: I'-v'o : discovered" tho .what.:.d'ye.call it." -Dv Maurie-r is Jier.e'in.'some of.chis most,famous pieces/ /Bernard Partridge has.his weedy suitqi',Mr. Softly, pilloried-^-Weedy one to- his .ladyMovo,v''How;would you.like:.to* own a—ei't-^a: Jittlo-' puppy?".'- . She: '-'"Oh, .Mr,/ Softly, this:is' so .sudden.'',■■ Another/ which . one., cqvets is'; ■'this' ;pf Keened:.. Old.'geritleriiau, -safely ovpr, tho gate,/ex,pPstulai;es breathlessly, witii1 thoi bull': which/has- pursuqcl1 h'ini;' tbu'fc ■now' staii'ds':carelessiy:gazing -frith the gent's;tbifh;a't'flu:'dri'bdoii.a horn:. s.'you .-y:.;. infernal .-T.uri,'.'. .grate. "'. '.ful bo^ast^—A;'n';^.;:./ni'e 'i'f. . boon „. . a . . . veg'tjirian allV.;'..in''life'.". Eound and abbut;pn shbtt a'ncl'mantel are,.'gifts: and sbuyenirs',trpmV.pla'cqs, far 'and.-,widely .■sunde're.das.fapan/and America..;. Since-, lSiAPunehJias/treasured a statuette of himself in full/regalia./It .Was' tho offer-. ,ing,, of ■'.young...lfieischmanii, ;:-the'i iaer-, man sculptor. .:-M:uiy-'a -timo'vhas .' tli'o grinning figure!,exercised his movable arms and lips and ;eyes in. wojcomiiig |ioii:/l^ifayprs;";(Hnd^'veh::gie.at'eft;digni''t^ries:' if tlicrb. bo any')' ,iii th eir- prpces' sions .down the Strand. But this''was in old-'arid-iliumblbr days-when his homo' had but oiib story;" "and. lay closer oh" tho highway;'--' But,' as 'with the'-'pic-' turcSj,.space,forbids ; niore. tlTan passing' nuin.ei:atioii ( .',••' .In. ano'tlier.'- rboni/' with': other "tre'a'sure'j/'is'^Paxton's original -sketch,-, of'liis adoa,:.of:- a .groat house .pi. iron and glass. Punch siiw and; understood. It was.called '.'Tho' Crystal Palaco" forthwith, and ultimately, bo.camo one. 7;, C. J .-- -, „- -■ .'■ ■ ■ ■ V "-TRIUMPHS, TRIALS, AND -!; r."- . '^MISADVENTURES; ' ; .'•': '; Pii'iicli" says. -he.is -..rightly-,- promi -of his successes.! •''Equally, is he. xienitont for his mistakes,' and courageous under his -'trials; A year or ■ two-1 after the triuinph-bf his-'first'Ahrianac^Viamo: Ms, perhaps, greatest good, fortune. Tom. ■Hood, dejected at its refusal by throe papers, sent in—anonymously—The Song of the SJiirf;.. Dickens, who- afterwards' saw. 5t 'in print,' gueSsctl-'-thb authorship, just- as' his ."discerning-oyo;

was also the' iirsfc that foUiid this wo-, man behind the name of "Goorgo Eliot;-" Mitrk/Le'mon, of. the.big- heart, a«cop.tqd.-tho.- song,, despito: the-; vigorousprotests of some of,his.roun'd:table colleagues. -. 'JPurthor, he-inserted it in ■ Punch's ;.'■ Christmas . number... . .The oob-. •jectois' vwcr'6: aghast.: But .in-:'a week England-rang with.it. .', .- •''' ' . ..Every. : paper"•: quoted it.' Europe read 'it like'the;word of a new'prophet.; Hood, ;poor fellow,."found a touching.reward in-hearijig.'it'.sung by. a poor >ypman about 't-ho' streets within. a. few-; days of itslprinting".;. Containing anodd number of - verses, tho. piece—for make-up, reasons—had to lose ono.vorse v These 'are. ■■ the;'now nearly. forgo tjtonV lines, '■ -.■_ "■:'':,..•"' '-jj ■-„ /"-.'-.-..-,.,■ Koam, and gussot,'.imd band,'/. 'Band, iind gusset,-and seam!1 . ■ - \Vqtk;:iyork, work, '„.-. ■ •'■■ [ s - " Like, an engine;. that works by steam 1- ■- - -A- mere machine of iron, and-wood, - ' -: That toils for Mammon's sake, = Without a 1 brain to ponder and craze, ■ Or'Vheart'to feel and break. . ; : Punch's circulation tripled after this, and Lemon had launched a great cry for humanity:;'; ".The Times ".had just then been heavy in labour to bring forth some-sympathy for the sweated poor, but Hood had lit. a torch which, thank God, has; never died out. Hood's lifer, was sad; 'irrepressible ,to the last,' threatened: with cainpie-te 'deafness he .compared, .his' lot with ''Hho weightier Landseer?s. ■'...'.'lf I beqoino; stone deaf, yet- '•: wi11... Landse'er:' bo - two stone deafer. "''/Jv •■-; ''- ■'•"-'■ '. /;'- .":'■'. /';' '"'Punch has-made" mistakes;'he admits his humanity. .In the American/Civil War,' he hac) no woi;d;for t'le south and bex'ated'Hhb"North'.'- .-'But,' at'Lincolnfs tragic end, the 'amends of his requiem song did.wonders in bring,-,: ing the.!.twO:-peoples. : into close touch, again/ ... ,'0 .. ' '' i* In ISBS'; iv'lieii' '"li6p;es .ran high .thatStewart -would- reach Gordon 'with the relief, Punch was -so certain.of success that .he issued ;-a cartoon of Gordon"and Stewart shaking hands .in "/tiro pitiful city.. But 'Stewart-was: already dead,. then .Gordon ■fell;:' TKert'-'canie -the /cartoon,' "T00... .late," with: Britannia' weeping. ':' It" made anieiidsV' '".V'/v' :.;.,, .•' , J V- How;/ hard^^thVough •■■-all tho '_ ? long, yp'arst to.:..av'bi'd' •rep'etitibn1, plagiarisffi,. ley'pn alleged ■.theft!.;; Punch lias 'Tjceii :;.-■■ Sometimes it-hasfbeeiV' tliroughv^'gfeatI;'minds /.thinking alike, '.at lougiintdrvais.perha.ps..1' Sometimes, asl :Keene.-fouhd,:.thQ:.great'mind thinks fiiikei:-: ? '^qmeUniies/an ■ old joke IJiias!''cr^p;tfM;^.i^f^;.:-'now/;ari'd'/perfect 'niiaKc-u|p.:.Jv'SomGtinie's,.:. ;cven, ■'- within the- brotlieiiiobd, a ' grumble has-been 'li'eard.*'v'::WUen- -Harry Furniss sent in . th'a imniortar...gentleman .. who"' "Sincethen -i'ye used:no other,"it was• Eeeno again in trouble; He imagined a^like'noss to..himself in' the portrait.' -.'Fur-. :nissJiad to reassure him. '-'. ihi'rmss had ;his annoyance later,; when he. found the partiesl'Who bought-,'..;the original' had ti ■ned'itinto an advertisement.---. '". Oiice' Punch had, to ; go-oii.rbonded -knees.' It;'jvas''oyer:the "What's tho.' use of. the';W' theiy?' in the bus conductor's story. .;', No one saw the point, Letters ppurect' mV;; The world's, newspapers" •ass.ailcd.,him. -Punch /niopped ■a tlrcd.i^row.^.v -With. ; a t.rub: democratic instinct, he put it up to the-.people/ A:. prize ,was offered - (and ..won) ;:f or th'q' b.ost'-s,6lutibn.l'O'f; the:-'enigma.y. / / j'/'; Then-.'-thore-is'the episode of the lin-. natural bird. An editor saw a.picture in -Puncli with a bird in an unnatural attitude (to .his, way of .thinking). He accused. Punch / of^ !■' purloining - it. from a .b,irxl.;in,;h|s;.paper in tho. same unnatural .posture. ■-. Punch thought a: iuinUt'd.;--.'-:Th:bn'-ho ••'turned up a-copyof: about '1850;s«liid,--there: -was the bird\in n the self-same, impossible position. .That-was-'tlio-drigiiiai/an^^tho fowl hadn.'t moved .sincei.- The ■. accuser faded from' human of, at least, Chafivariun ken..."1 A WORD ON PUNCH'S MEN AND ,:'. HIS IDEAS. / Punch, admits that: h.is'.writers and .his artists/vary.:: But of both text-and ' pieturej/ he..boasts .that .'it is eloan.-.; He;avers .that h.is;,.humo,ur is '.trub huniourj_ "that; liisL'relationship' "with tli'o Spirit of. tiie.';i Times .is.close, exact, and.sympathetic;. .-tiiat lib .would rather praise rthan.. blame,'• .rafther - laugh than weep, .'lib says that'-ho,-would'do all things in ;;the right..way, at the right time,.: and that Britannia is his Goddess, over.*' ' -. ' Of his .artists, every man to his line.' Keeno; f6.r..;all[:his. genius, seems to have:failed generally;tov'giye .us, a beautiful1 woman. Y';;-phil|:''May would not '■"have boqn'.at/hbni'e.^witW'a -marehibness. ;'We; '■ begin- to-:, 'ihihlc* Th'aekei'ay], who studied, ..snobs, .was-qycr so. slightly inclinedtha't; way:, '. himself. „'■' .But he turns to .; pii^ Maurier-'s '. Duchesses, . to . Tonnicl's classic, females,: and to later; artists whose wpmten- are the epitome'- of Ehg-. lislL-be'au'ty.:;-/* ;'ln> all ;1 his ' gallery; of; *pic.t,i.irej";ahd; ". prbs'ei '•''-'- and y.bfse, 'and; story, .they. ; hayo. ajl their usb .to- hini^— and-theiiv/infinite 'joy;-to. us. Without Punch, where should we stand for appreciation1' of' Jeanies,' of: Policeman X, of Du/Maui'ier's. high-born ■ dames', ofthe.'greatjfigures; in' .our ■ Seryiees and our Parliaments. Think of us without) Topsy, th.b".'Newly-Biches, tho'saintly. ;and,' th 6 Vdeyiiish'I.:...children-^-our very own!";. And:the^ ultra-refined bluejacket, . "But; ip.ut,rme-.in-.a..gar.d'en where-there's• roses, ■'andi:l?ni'', ; just',like a bit'o' condensed' milk! ''■',:,/ ' ' ■■''" ■ HIS :PRINI AND MAKE-UP.'. :■','+ '■ . :T6' ail'Wese..p;bepings into 'his; inner life.and sto.ryf^Puneh1 added.one; more •aßd-jequally1 rare:favour.1 • „, . .. . •J*\Hb ;'escbJted!:;me,/ by genial -.deputy, through'all the'mysteries of the launching of his current issue into the world.. Hjs, njagieian .of,.:those regions .guided' .ine^thVough^fb'qm ■"on ■■ room./splendidly clean/'perf eetly ■ 'f lighted, l arid /ideally •'■Ventila'te'dj :Hbro':-were- explained ; the rdotails.vof „i-.'.fl.bn'g/.?.^-!of. blocks,1 ,' and' vplatesj.a.ndi half-tones; I .became-, learned in the. matters' of,- castings,; nickelplatings, masses of molten alloys; in ;the scoperand. spefed-'.qf Hoei.rotaries. I saw,,-Punelie.Si.eoming into this .world. at seven.1 thousand, copies, an hour-^many .more.arrive, ii time presses. ' .Tbef great rolls, of newsprint 'flew:up and undqr and over the racing cylinders/ and, came out folded leaves of- Punch. ■'■■ It'was beautiful work, beautifully done, and it was cliaracteristie of tho old' gentleman that no smallest detail of wise considerationI'for-, the "littlest starlet" in his-.consteHatxon:-js,forgotten. .. . ." i .;v.-I hope. I-., did. .not overstay,' my - wel-. come,die.iPimch.-'. If so it .was because;, you have been so perfect a host:'. Adieu,/ Sir!-And I thank you.