[CONTENTS.]
| PAGE. | ||
| Introduction, | [9] | |
| Chapter I.— | Origin of Punch in Italy, | [11] |
| II.— | Origin and Progress of Puppet-Plays in England, | [12] |
| III.— | Antiquity of Punch in America, | [14] |
| IV.— | On the Construction of the Theatre and the Acting of thePuppets—on the Choice and Selection of PerformingFigures—on the Management of the Punch Squeaker, | [16] |
THE TRAGICAL ACTS, OR COMICAL TRAGEDIES OF PUNCH AND JUDY. | ||
| Punch and his Dog Toby, | [25] | |
| Scaramouch with Punch and his Horse, | [28] | |
| Punch, Judy and the Baby, | [29] | |
| Punch sees a Ghost, | [34] | |
| Punch and the Doctor, | [34] | |
| Punch kills Scaramouch, | [36] | |
| The Irishman tells Punch a little story, | [36] | |
| Punch and the Opera Singer, | [37] | |
| Clown troubles Mr. Punch, | [37] | |
| The Persecuted Dutchman in Mrs. Barrisnobe’s Hotel, | [38] | |
| Schmidt is waited on by Teddy, Pretty Polly and Mrs. Barrisnobe; heretires to rest, but is disturbed all through the night by strange anduninvited visitors—first by Teddy, who gives him a clubbing, followedby a Clown, Irishman, the Doctor, Adelina, Captain Blowhard,Police Officer, a Lawyer, a Ghost, Mrs. Barrisnobe, with a finalstruggle betwixt Mary and the Dutchman, who attempts to carry offthe bed, | [39] | |
| Scaramouch and his Fiddle, | [49] | |
| Punch and his Pretty Polly, | [50] | |
| Servant orders Punch to Stop his Music, | [52] | |
| Punch and the Blind Man, | [54] | |
| Punch and the Constable, | [55] | |
| Punch hangs the Hangman, | [57] | |
| Joey and Punch bury Jack Ketch, | [59] | |
| Punch Alarmed at the Appearance of the Demon, | [60] | |
| Gradually becoming bolder, he fights His Majesty, | [61] | |
| Punch Victorious, | [61] | |
| The Sinking Ship and Storm at Sea, | [62] | |
| The Black Judge, | [65] | |
| Punch in his famous $25,000 Box Act, | [69] | |
| Dialogue for a pair of Ventriloquial Champions, | [73] | |
| A Young Lady’s Conversation, | [77] | |
| Price List of Punch and Judy Properties, | [78] | |
| The Royal Marionettes, | [79] | |
[INTRODUCTION.]
With the assistance of information that we have gained, being a practical performer of acknowledged ability, we are about to fill up a hiatus in theatrical history.
It is singular that, to the present day, save by one author of a valuable work, now out of print, no other attempt has been made to illustrate the origin, biography and character of a person so distinguished and notorious as Mr. Punch. His name and his performances are familiar to all ranks and ages; yet none have hitherto taken the trouble, in this country or abroad, to make any inquiries regarding himself, his family or connections. The “studious Bayle” is recorded to have repeatedly sallied from his retreat, at the sound of the cracked trumpet, announcing his arrival in Rotterdam; and we ourselves, who have often hunted our favorite performer from street to street, saw the late Mr. Windham, then one of the Secretaries of State, on his way from Downing Street to the House of Commons, on a night of important debate, pause like a truant boy until the whole performance was concluded, to enjoy a hearty laugh at the whimsicalities of “the motley hero.” But it is needless to particularize. Punch has
“made our youth to laugh,
Until they scarcely could look out for tears;”