The preceding illustration of Mr. Punch's terse and true expression of public opinion is the most recent that can now be given, but as one looks through the pages of the 113 Volumes of Punch, which bring this famous periodical to the end of the year 1897, one notices many other examples of Mr. Punch's acute discernment and pithy expression of the public mind, which have been stepping-stones of fame to him during his long life of nearly sixty years, quite apart from the weekly dish of good things offered by Mr. Punch to his public.
"THINGS MAY TAKE ANOTHER TURN."
2.—THE FIRST PICTURE IN "PUNCH." 1841.
Thanks to the kindness of Messrs. Bradbury and Agnew, the proprietors of Punch, I am able to give to the general public some of the pleasure that comes from the possession of a complete set of Punch. In reading one's Punch the pleasure is much enhanced by Mr. M. H. Spielmann's most admirable book, "The History of Punch" [Cassell and Company, Limited, 1895], for Mr. Spielmann is probably the best living authority on this subject, and his researches, which extended over four years, enable the ordinary Punch-lover to find many points of great interest [specially in the early Volumes] which, without Mr. Spielmann's book, might be passed over without notice. Some of the Punch engravings now shown have been found by the aid of Mr. Spielmann's book, which is a thoroughly reliable and quite indispensable Text-Book on Punch, while, on other points, I have been privileged to consult Mr. W. Lawrence Bradbury and Mr. Philip L. Agnew as well as Mr. Spielmann himself.
CANDIDATES UNDER DIFFERENT PHASES.
CANVASSING. THE DEPUTATON.
THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE. THE HUSTINGS. THE PUBLIC DINNER.