"PICTURES PROM 'PUNCH.'"
["Let me draw the People's pictures, and whosoever will may preach their sermons."—Maxims of Punchius.]
"Pictures from Punch!" Good lack! How one's memories backward it carries.
This artful collection of Briggses, and Tompkinses, Roberts, and 'Arries!
Forage of fifty years from Art—granaries fuller than Coptic!
What first pleased our grandfather's eye may now brighten our grandchild's blue optic!
Art that's humane never ages, and humour that's human's perennial.
Turn to these pages and try! You'll perceive that impeccable Tenniel
Moved men to mirth in the Fifties that folks in the Nineties continue;
Your midriff indeed must be numb if his Yeomanry Major won't win you;
And such "Illustrations to Shakspeare," so finely drawn and so funnily,
Might tickle Miss Delia Bacon, and knock sawdust out of "crank" Donnelly.
Why praise those plump, "pretty girls," with their cheeks round and rosy as peaches,
And as full of fun as of beauty, well known to the world as John Leech's?
All the fan of the Fair! Still their arch eyes attractively flash on
The British male creature, although he may growl at the follies of Fashion.
But e'en fashion cannot kill fun. If you'd enter the evergreen Smile-Lands,
Turn over to page twenty-one and accompany Briggs to the Highlands!
Br-r-r-r! There's a happy explosion in each individual picture!
"Sport" such as Briggs's escapes the most "humanitarian" stricture.
Keane—gentle Carlo! again! His braw feeshermen—even o' Sundays!—
Might soften a Scotch Sabbatarian. Even the grimmest of Grundies
Must smile at his topers and tubthumpers, while, as for true English scenery,
Where is the magical touch that could so render gay breadths of greenery?
Drawing-room humours, and dainty technique, do you favour? Fame's laurier,
Everyone knows—as here proved—for all that falls on subtle Du Maurier.
"Dicky Doyle's" opulent fancy, quaint Sambourne's exhaustless invention—
But there, 'tis a "Humorous Art Gallery" by "Great Hands" too many to mention.
When you have feasted on Tenniel and Keane, then of Partridge the turn is,
And fed full on John Leech's "fire," you will find lots of ditto in Furniss.
"Pictures from Punch!" That means pictures from full half a century's story;
Humours, and fashions, and fads, English Mirth—English Girls—English Glory!
Victoria's reign set to laughter; a gay panorama of Beauty!
Buy Britons, study, enjoy! 'Tis your interest, aye, and your duty!
Here are "England—Home—Beauty" in one, and at sixpence a month. That's not much, man!
If 'tis not your duty to "see that you get it," then Punch is a Dutchman!
