SinceGeorge’stimehumorhasbeenconverted。Comusandhiswickedsatyrsandleeringfaunshavedisappeared，andfledintothelowesthaunts;andComus’slady（ifshehadatasteforhumor，whichmaybedoubted）mighttakeupourfunnypicture—bookswithouttheslightestprecautionarysqueamishness。WhatcanbepurerthanthecharmingfanciesofRichardDoyle？InallMr。Punch’shugegalleriescan’twewalkassafelyasthroughMissPinkerton’sschoolrooms？AndaswelookatMr。Punch’spictures，attheIllustratedNewspictures，atallthepicturesinthebook—shopwindowsatthisChristmasseason，asoldsters，wefeelacertainpangofenvyagainsttheyoungsters——theyaretoowelloff。Whyhadn’tWEpicture—books？

Whywerewefloggedso？AplagueonthelictorsandtheirrodsinthetimeofPlancus！

Andnow，afterthisramblingpreface，wearearrivedatthesubjectinhand——Mr。JohnLeechandhis"PicturesofLifeandCharacter，"inthecollectionofMr。Punch。Thisbookisbetterthanplum—cakeatChristmas。Itisanenduringplum—cake，whichyoumayeatandwhichyoumaysliceanddelivertoyourfriends;andtowhich，havingcutit，youmaycomeagainandwelcome，fromyear’sendtoyear’send。

InthefrontispieceyouseeMr。Punchexaminingthepicturesinhisgallery——aportly，well—dressed，middle—aged，respectablegentleman，inawhiteneck—cloth，andapoliteeveningcostume——smilinginaveryblandandagreeablemannerupononeofhispleasantdrawings，takenoutofoneofhishandsomeportfolios。Mr。Punchhasverygoodreasontosmileattheworkandbesatisfiedwiththeartist。

Mr。Leech，hischiefcontributor，andsomekindredhumorists，withpencilandpenhaveservedMr。Punchadmirably。Timewas，ifwerememberMr。P。’shistoryrightly，thathedidnotwearsilkstockingsnorwell—madeclothes（thelittledorsalirregularityinhisfigureisalmostanornamentnow，soexcellentatailorhashe）。

Hewasofhumblebeginnings。Itissaidhekeptaraggedlittlebooth，whichheputupatcornersofstreets;associatedwithbeadles，policemen，hisownuglywife（whomhetreatedmostscandalously），andpersonsinalowstationoflife;earningaprecariouslivelihoodbythecrackingofwildjokes，thesingingofribaldsongs，andhalfpenceextortedfrompassers—by。HeistheSatyricgeniuswespokeofanon:hecrackshisjokesstill，forsatiremustlive;butheiscombed，washed，neatlyclothed，andperfectlypresentable。Hegoesintotheverybestcompany;hekeepsastudatMelton;hehasamoorinScotland;heridesinthePark;

hashisstallattheOpera;isconstantlydiningoutatclubsandinprivatesociety;andgoeseverynightintheseasontoballsandparties，whereyouseethemostbeautifulwomenpossible。Heiswelcomedamongsthisnewfriendsthegreat;though，likethegoodoldEnglishgentlemanofthesong，hedoesnotforgetthesmall。Hepatstheheadsofstreetboysandgirls;relishesthejokesofJackthecostermongerandBobthedustman;good—naturedlyspiesoutMollythecookflirtingwithpolicemanX，orMarythenursemaidasshelistenstothefascinatingguardsman。Heusedrathertolaughatguardsmen，"plungers，"andothermilitarymen;andwasuntillatterdaysverycontemptuousinhisbehaviortowardsFrenchmen。Hehasanaturalantipathytopomp，andswagger，andfiercedemeanor。Butnowthattheguardsmenaregonetowar，andthedandiesof"TheRag"——dandiesnomore——arebattlinglikeheroesatBalaklavaandInkermann*bythesideoftheirheroicallies，Mr。Punch’slaughterischangedtoheartyrespectandenthusiasm。Itisnotagainstcourageandhonorhewars:butthisgreatmoralist——mustitbeowned？——hassomepopularBritishprejudices，andtheseledhiminpeacetimetolaughatsoldiersandFrenchmen。IfthosehulkingfootmenwhoaccompaniedthecarriagestotheopeningofParliamenttheotherday，wouldformaplushbrigade，wearonlygunpowderintheirhair，andstrikewiththeirgreatcanesontheenemy，Mr。

PunchwouldleaveofflaughingatJeames，whomeanwhileremainsamongus，toalloutwardappearanceregardlessofsatire，andcalmlyconsuminghisfivemealsperdiem。Againstlawyers，beadles，bishopsandclergy，andauthorities，Mr。Punchisstillratherbitter。AtthetimeofthePapalaggressionhewasprodigiouslyangry;andoneofthechiefmisfortuneswhichhappenedtohimatthatperiodwasthat，throughtheviolentopinionswhichheexpressedregardingtheRomanCatholichierarchy，helosttheinvaluableservices，thegracefulpencil，theharmlesswit，thecharmingfancyofMr。Doyle。AnothermemberofMr。Punch’scabinet，thebiographerofJeames，theauthorofthe"SnobPapers，"resignedhisfunctionsonaccountofMr。Punch’sassaultsuponthepresentEmperoroftheFrenchnation，whoseangerJeamesthoughtitwasunpatriotictoarouse。Mr。Punchpartedwiththesecontributors:hefilledtheirplaceswithothersasgood。TheboysattherailroadstationscriedPunchjustascheerily，andsoldjustasmanynumbers，aftertheseeventsasbefore。

*Thiswaswrittenin1854。

ThereisnoblinkingthefactthatinMr。Punch’scabinetJohnLeechistheright—handman。FancyanumberofPunchwithoutLeech’spictures！Whatwouldyougiveforit？Thelearnedgentlemenwhowritetheworkmustfeelthat，withouthim，itwereaswellleftalone。LookattherivalswhomthepopularityofPunchhasbroughtintothefield;thedirectimitatorsofMr。Leech’smanner——theartistswithamanneroftheirown——howinferiortheirpencilsaretohisinhumor，indepictingthepublicmanners，inarresting，amusingthenation。Thetruth，thestrength，thefreevigor，thekindhumor，theJohnBullpluckandspiritofthathandareapproachedbynocompetitor。Withwhatdexterityhedrawsahorse，awoman，achild！Hefeelsthemall，sotospeak，likeaman。WhatplumpyoungbeautiesthosearewithwhichMr。Punch’schiefcontributorsuppliestheoldgentleman’spictorialharem！WhatfamousthewsandsinewsMr。Punch’shorseshave，andhowBriggs，onthebackofthem，scampersacrosscountry！Youseeyouth，strength，enjoyment，manlinessinthosedrawings，andinnonemoreso，toourthinking，thaninthehundredpicturesofchildrenwhichthisartistlovestodesign。Likeabrave，hearty，good—naturedBriton，hebecomesquitesoftandtenderwiththelittlecreatures，patsgentlytheirlittlegoldenheads，andwatcheswithunfailingpleasuretheirways，theirsports，theirjokes，laughter，caresses。EnfansterriblescomehomefromEton;youngMisspractisingherfirstflirtation;poorlittleraggedPollymakingdirt—piesinthegutter，orstaggeringundertheweightofJacky，hernursechild，whoisasbigasherself——alltheselittleones，patricianandplebeian，meetwithkindnessfromthiskindheart，andarewatchedwithcuriousnicetybythisamiableobserver。

Weremember，inoneofthoseancientGilrayportfolios，aprintwhichusedtocauseasortofterrorinusyouthfulspectators，andinwhichthePrinceofWales（hisRoyalHighnesswasaFoxitethen）

wasrepresentedassittingaloneinamagnificenthallafteravoluptuousmeal，andusingagreatsteelforkintheguiseofatoothpick。Fancythefirstyounggentlemanlivingemployingsuchaweaponinsuchaway！ThemostelegantPrinceofEuropeengagedwithatwo—prongedironfork——theheirofBritanniawithaBIDENT！

Themanofgeniuswhodrewthatpicturesawlittleofthesocietywhichhesatirizedandamused。GilraywatchedpubliccharactersastheywalkedbytheshopinSt。James’sStreet，orpassedthroughthelobbyoftheHouseofCommons。Hisstudiowasagarret，orlittlebetter;hisplaceofamusementatavern—parlor，wherehisclubhelditsnightlysittingsovertheirpipesandsandedfloor。Youcouldnothavesocietyrepresentedbymentowhomitwasnotfamiliar。

WhenGavarnicametoEnglandafewyearssince——oneofthewittiestofmen，oneofthemostbrilliantanddexterousofdraughtsmen——hepublishedabookof"LesAnglais，"andhisAnglaiswereallFrenchmen。Theeye，sokeenandsolongpractisedtoobserveParisianlife，couldnotperceiveEnglishcharacter。Asocialpaintermustbeoftheworldwhichhedepicts，andnativetothemannerswhichheportrays。

Now，anyonewholooksoverMr。Leech’sportfoliomustseethatthesocialpictureswhichhegivesusareauthentic。Whatcomfortablelittledrawing—roomsanddining—rooms，whatsnuglibrariesweenter;

whatfineyoung—gentlemanlywagstheyare，thosebeautifullittledandieswhowakeupgoutyoldgrandpapatoringthebell;whodeclineaunt’spuddingandcustards，sayingthattheywillreservethemselvesforananchovytoastwiththeclaret;whotalktogetherinball—roomdoors，whereFredwhispersCharley——pointingtoadearlittlepartnersevenyearsold——"MydearCharley，shehasverymuchgoneoff;youshouldhaveseenthatgirllastseason！"LookwellateverythingappertainingtotheeconomyofthefamousMr。Briggs:

howsnug，quiet，appropriatealltheappointmentsare！Whatacomfortable，neat，clean，middle—classhouseBriggs’sis（intheBayswatersuburbofLondon，weshouldguessfromthesketchesofthesurroundingscenery）！Whatagoodstablehehas，withalooseboxforthosecelebratedhunterswhichherides！Howpleasant，clean，andwarmhisbreakfast—tablelooks！Whatatrimlittlemaidbringsinthetop—bootswhichhorrifyMrs。B！Whatasnugdressing—roomhehas，completeinallitsappointments，andinwhichheappearstryingonthedelightfulhunting—capwhichMrs。Briggsflingsintothefire！HowcosyalltheBriggspartyseemintheirdining—room:

BriggsreadingaTreatiseonDog—breakingbyalamp;MammaandGranniewiththeirrespectiveneedleworks;thechildrenclusteringroundagreatbookofprints——agreatbookofprintssuchasthisbeforeus，which，atthisseason，mustmakethousandsofchildrenhappybyasmanyfiresides！Theinnerlifeofallthesepeopleisrepresented:LeechdrawsthemasnaturallyasTeniersdepictsDutchboors，orMorlandpigsandstables。Itisyourhouseandmine:wearelookingateverybody’sfamilycircle。Ourboyscomingfromschoolgivethemselvessuchairs，theyoungscapegraces！ourgirls，goingtoparties，aresotrickedoutbyfondmammas——asocialhistoryofLondoninthemiddleofthenineteenthcentury。Assuch，futurestudents——luckytheytohaveabooksopleasant——willregardthesepages:eventhemutationsoffashiontheymayfollowhereiftheybesoinclined。Mr。Leechhasasfineaneyefortailoryandmillineryasforhorse—flesh。Howtheychangethosecloaksandbonnets。Howwehavetopaymilliners’billsfromyeartoyear！

Wherearethoseprodigiouschatelainesof1850whichnoladycouldbewithout？Wherethosecharmingwaistcoats，those"stunning"

waistcoats，whichouryounggirlsusedtowearafewbriefseasonsback，andwhichcause’Gus，inthesweetlittlesketchof"LaMode，"

toaskEllenforhertailor’saddress。’Gusisayoungwarriorbythistime，verylikelyfacingtheenemyatInkerman;andprettyEllen，andthatloveofasisterofhers，aremarriedandhappy，letushope，superintendingoneofthosedelightfulnurserysceneswhichourartistdepictswithsuchtenderhumor。Fortunateartist，indeed！Youseehemusthavebeenbredatagoodpublicschool;

thathehasriddenmanyagoodhorseinhisday;paid，nodoubt，outofhisownpursefortheoriginalsofsomeofthoselovelycapsandbonnets;andwatchedpaternallytheways，smiles，frolics，andslumbersofhisfavoritelittlepeople。

Asyoulookatthedrawings，secretscomeoutofthem，——privatejokes，asitwere，impartedtoyoubytheauthorforyourspecialdelectation。Howremarkably，forinstance，hasMr。Leechobservedthehair—dressersofthepresentage！Lookat"Mr。Tongs，"whomthathideousoldbaldwoman，whotiesonherbonnetattheglass，informsthat"shehasusedthewholebottleofBalmofCalifornia，butherhaircomesoffyet。"Youcanseethebear’s—greasenotonlyonTongs’sheadbutonhishands，whichheisclappingclammilytogether。Remarkhimwhoistellinghisclient"thereischolerainthehair;"andthatluckyroguewhomtheyoungladybidstocutoff"alongthickpiece"——forsomebody，doubtless。Allthesemenaredifferent，anddelightfullynaturalandabsurd。Whyshouldhair—

dressingbeanabsurdprofession？

TheamateurwillremarkwhatanexcellentparthandsplayinMr。

Leech’spieces:hisadmirableactorsusethemwithperfectnaturalness。LookatBetty，puttingtheurndown;atcook，layingherhandsonthekitchentable，whilstherpolicemangrumblesatthecoldmeat。Theyarecook’sandhousemaid’shandswithoutmistake，andnotwithoutacertainbeautytoo。Thebaldoldlady，whoistyingherbonnetatTongs’s，hashandswhichyouseearetrembling。

Watchthefingersofthetwooldharridanswhoaretalkingscandal:

forwhatlongyearspasttheyhavepointedoutholesintheirneighbors’dressesandmudontheirflounces。"Here’sago！I’velostmydiamondring。"Asthedustmanuttersthispatheticcry，andlooksathishand，youburstoutlaughing。Theseareamongthelittlepointsofhumor。Onecouldindicatehundredsofsuchasoneturnsoverthepleasantpages。

Thereisalittlesnoborgent，whomweallofusknow，whowearslittletuftsonhislittlechin，outrageouspinsandpantaloons，smokescigarsontobacconists’counters，suckshiscaneinthestreets，strutsaboutwithMrs。Snobandthebaby（Mrs。S。animmensewoman，whomSnobneverthelessbullies），whoisafavoriteabominationofLeech，andpursuedbythatsavagehumoristintoathousandofhishaunts。Thereheis，choosingwaistcoatsatthetailor’s——suchwaistcoats！Yonderheisgivingashillingtothesweeperwhocallshim"Capting;"nowheisofferingapaletottoahugegiantwhoisgoingoutintherain。Theydon’tknowtheirownpictures，verylikely;iftheydid，theywouldhaveameeting，andthirtyorfortyofthemwouldbedeputedtothrashMr。Leech。Onefeelsapityforthepoorlittlebucks。Inaminuteortwo，whenweclosethisdiscourseandwalkthestreets，weshallseeadozensuch。

Ereweshutthedeskup，justonewordtopointouttotheunwaryspeciallytonotethebackgroundsoflandscapesinLeech’sdrawings——

homelydrawingsofmoorandwood，andseashoreandLondonstreet——

thescenesofhislittledramas。Theyareasexcellentlytruetonatureastheactorsthemselves;ourrespectforthegeniusandhumorwhichinventedbothincreasesaswelookandlookagainatthedesigns。Maywehavemoreofthem;morepleasantChristmasvolumes，overwhichweandourchildrencanlaughtogether。Canwehavetoomuchoftruth，andfun，andbeauty，andkindness？

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