arrulous¡¡old¡¡Caroline¡¡diarist¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡these¡¡captivating¡¡pictures¡¡the¡¡life¡¡of¡¡thirty¡¡years¡¡ago¡¡is¡¡indeed£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡titlepage¡¡has¡¡it£»¡¡¡¨draolesworths¡¡and¡¡Cantilupes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡day¡¡parading¡¡the¡¡Park£»¡¡we¡¡watch¡¡Brougham¡¡fretting¡¡at¡¡a¡¡hearing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Lords£»¡¡or¡¡Peel¡¡holding¡¡forth¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mons¡¡£¨where¡¡the¡¡Irish¡¡members¡¡are¡¡already¡¡obstructive£©£»¡¡arket¡¡to¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡Jenny¡¡Lind£»¡¡or¡¡we¡¡run¡¡down¡¡the¡¡river¡¡to¡¡Greenwich¡¡Fair£»¡¡and¡¡visit¡¡¡¨Mr¡£¡¡Richardson£»¡¡his¡¡show¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡Many¡¡years¡¡after£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡¡¨Bird's¡¡Eye¡¡Views¡¡of¡¡Society£»¡¨¡¡which¡¡appeared¡¡in¡¡the¡¡early¡¡numbers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡¡¨Cornhill¡¡Magazine£»¡¨¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Doyle¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡this¡¡attractive¡¡theme¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡later¡¡designs¡¡were¡¡more¡¡elaborate£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡equally¡¡fortunate¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡bear¡¡the¡¡same¡¡relationship¡¡to¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Pips's¡¡pictorial¡¡chronicle£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡laboured¡¡¡¨Temperance¡¡Fairy¡¡Tales¡¨¡¡of¡¡Cruikshank's¡¡old¡¡age¡¡bear¡¡to¡¡the¡¡littleworked¡¡Grimm's¡¡¡¨Goblins¡¨¡¡of¡¡his¡¡youth¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡hazardous¡¡is¡¡the¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡repeat¡¡an¡¡old¡¡success£¡¡¡¡¡Nevertheless£»¡¡many¡¡of¡¡the¡¡initial¡¡letters¡¡to¡¡the¡¡¡¨Bird's¡¡Eye¡¡Views¡¨¡¡are¡¡in¡¡the¡¡artist's¡¡best¡¡and¡¡most¡¡frolicsome¡¡manner¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡Foreign¡¡Tour¡¡of¡¡Brown£»¡¡Jones£»¡¡and¡¡Robinson¡¨¡¡is¡¡another¡¡of¡¡his¡¡happy¡¡thoughts¡¡for¡¡¡¨Punch£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡some¡¡of¡¡his¡¡most¡¡popular¡¡designs¡¡are¡¡to¡¡be¡¡found¡¡in¡¡Thackeray's¡¡¡¨Newes£»¡¨¡¡where¡¡his¡¡satire¡¡and¡¡fancy¡¡seem¡¡thoroughly¡¡suited¡¡to¡¡his¡¡text¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡has¡¡also¡¡illustrated¡¡Locker's¡¡wellknown¡¡¡¨London¡¡Lyrics£»¡¨¡¡Ruskin's¡¡¡¨King¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Golden¡¡River£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡Hughes's¡¡¡¨Scouring¡¡of¡¡the¡¡White¡¡Horse£»¡¨¡¡from¡¡which¡¡last¡¡the¡¡initial¡¡at¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡of¡¡this¡¡chapter¡¡has¡¡been¡¡borrowed¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡latest¡¡important¡¡effort¡¡was¡¡the¡¡series¡¡of¡¡drawings¡¡called¡¡¡¨In¡¡Fairy¡¡Land£»¡¨¡¡to¡¡which¡¡Mr¡£¡¡William¡¡Allingham¡¡contributed¡¡the¡¡verses¡£
In¡¡speaking¡¡of¡¡the¡¡¡¨Newes£»¡¨¡¡one¡¡is¡¡reminded¡¡that¡¡its¡¡illustrious¡¡author¡¡was¡¡himself¡¡a¡¡¡¨Punch¡¨¡¡artist£»¡¡and¡¡would¡¡probably¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡designer¡¡alone£»¡¡had¡¡it¡¡not¡¡been¡¡decreed¡¡¡¨that¡¡he¡¡should¡¡paint¡¡in¡¡colours¡¡which¡¡will¡¡never¡¡crack¡¡and¡¡never¡¡need¡¡restoration¡£¡¨¡¡Everyone¡¡knows¡¡the¡¡story¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rejected¡¡illustrator¡¡of¡¡¡¨Pickwick£»¡¨¡¡whom¡¡that¡¡and¡¡other¡¡rebuffs¡¡drove¡¡permanently¡¡to¡¡letters¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡his¡¡death£»¡¡however£»¡¡he¡¡clung¡¡fondly¡¡to¡¡his¡¡pencil¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡technique¡¡he¡¡never¡¡attained¡¡to¡¡certainty¡¡or¡¡strength£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡genius¡¡was¡¡too¡¡quick¡¡and¡¡creativeperhaps¡¡also¡¡too¡¡desultoryfor¡¡finished¡¡work£»¡¡while¡¡he¡¡was¡¡always¡¡indifferent¡¡to¡¡costume¡¡and¡¡accessory¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡many¡¡of¡¡his¡¡sketches¡¡for¡¡¡¨Vanity¡¡Fair£»¡¨¡¡for¡¡¡¨Pendennis£»¡¨¡¡for¡¡¡¨The¡¡Virginians£»¡¨¡¡for¡¡¡¨The¡¡Rose¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Ring£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡Christmas¡¡books£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡posthumously¡¡published¡¡¡¨Orphan¡¡of¡¡Pimlico£»¡¨¡¡have¡¡a¡¡vigour¡¡of¡¡impromptu£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡happy¡¡suggestiveness¡¡which¡¡is¡¡better¡¡than¡¡correct¡¡drawing¡£¡¡¡¡Often¡¡the¡¡realisation¡¡is¡¡almost¡¡photographic¡£¡¡¡¡Look£»¡¡for¡¡example£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡portrait¡¡in¡¡¡¨Pendennis¡¨¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dilapidated¡¡Major¡¡as¡¡he¡¡crawls¡¡downstairs¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dawn¡¡after¡¡the¡¡ball¡¡at¡¡Gaunt¡¡House£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡the¡¡inimitable¡¡context£º¡¡¡¡¡¨That¡¡admirable¡¡and¡¡devoted¡¡Major¡¡above¡¡all£»who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡for¡¡hours¡¡by¡¡Lady¡¡Clavering's¡¡side¡¡ministering¡¡to¡¡her¡¡and¡¡feeding¡¡her¡¡body¡¡with¡¡everything¡¡that¡¡was¡¡nice£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡ear¡¡with¡¡everything¡¡that¡¡was¡¡sweet¡¡and¡¡flatteringoh£¡¡¡what¡¡an¡¡object¡¡he¡¡was£¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡rings¡¡round¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡of¡¡the¡¡colour¡¡of¡¡bistre£»¡¡those¡¡orbs¡¡themselves¡¡were¡¡like¡¡the¡¡plovers'¡¡eggs¡¡whereof¡¡Lady¡¡Clavering¡¡and¡¡Blanche¡¡had¡¡each¡¡tasted£»¡¡the¡¡wrinkles¡¡in¡¡his¡¡old¡¡face¡¡were¡¡furrowed¡¡in¡¡deep¡¡gashes£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡silver¡¡stubble£»¡¡like¡¡an¡¡elderly¡¡morning¡¡dew£»¡¡was¡¡glittering¡¡on¡¡his¡¡chin£»¡¡and¡¡alongside¡¡the¡¡dyed¡¡whiskers£»¡¡now¡¡limp¡¡and¡¡out¡¡of¡¡curl¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡A¡¡good¡¡deal¡¡of¡¡thisthat¡¡fine¡¡touch¡¡in¡¡italics¡¡especiallycould¡¡not¡¡possibly¡¡be¡¡rendered¡¡in¡¡black¡¡and¡¡white£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡how¡¡much¡¡is¡¡indicated£»¡¡and¡¡how¡¡thoroughly¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡is¡¡felt£¡¡¡¡¡One¡¡turns¡¡to¡¡the¡¡woodcut¡¡from¡¡the¡¡words£»¡¡and¡¡back¡¡again¡¡to¡¡the¡¡words¡¡from¡¡the¡¡woodcut¡¡with¡¡everincreasing¡¡gratification¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡again£»¡¡Thackeray's¡¡little¡¡initial¡¡letters¡¡are¡¡charmingly¡¡arch¡¡and¡¡playful¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡throw¡¡a¡¡shy¡¡sidelight¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡text£»¡¡giving£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡were£»¡¡an¡¡additional¡¡and¡¡confidential¡¡hint¡¡of¡¡the¡¡working¡¡of¡¡the¡¡author's¡¡mind¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡those¡¡who£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡present¡¡writer£»¡¡love¡¡every¡¡tiny¡¡scratch¡¡and¡¡quirk¡¡and¡¡flourish¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Master's¡¡hand£»¡¡these¡¡small¡¡but¡¡priceless¡¡memorials¡¡are¡¡far¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡frigid¡¡appraising¡¡of¡¡academics¡¡and¡¡schools¡¡of¡¡art¡£
After¡¡Doyle¡¡and¡¡Thackeray¡¡e¡¡a¡¡couple¡¡of¡¡wellknown¡¡artistsJohn¡¡Leech¡¡and¡¡John¡¡Tenniel¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡latter¡¡still¡¡lives¡¡£¨may¡¡he¡¡long¡¡live£¡£©¡¡to¡¡delight¡¡and¡¡instruct¡¡us¡£¡¡¡¡Of¡¡the¡¡former£»¡¡whose¡¡genial¡¡and¡¡manly¡¡¡¨Pictures¡¡of¡¡Life¡¡and¡¡Character¡¨¡¡are¡¡in¡¡every¡¡home¡¡where¡¡good¡¡humoured¡¡raillery¡¡is¡¡prized¡¡and¡¡appreciated£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡scarcely¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡speak¡£¡¡¡¡Who¡¡does¡¡not¡¡remember¡¡the¡¡splendid¡¡languid¡¡swells£»¡¡the¡¡brighteyed¡¡rosy¡¡girls¡¡£¨¡¨with¡¡no¡¡nonsense¡¡about¡¡them£¡¡¨£©¡¡in¡¡pork¡¡pie¡¡hats¡¡and¡¡crinolines£»¡¡the¡¡superlative¡¡¡¨Jeames's£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡hairy¡¡¡¨Mossoos£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡musicgrinding¡¡Italian¡¡desperadoes¡¡whom¡¡their¡¡kind¡¡creator¡¡hated¡¡so£¿¡¡¡¡And¡¡then¡¡the¡¡intrepidity¡¡of¡¡¡¨Mr¡£¡¡Briggs£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡Roman¡¡rule¡¡of¡¡¡¨Paterfamilias£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡vagaries¡¡of¡¡the¡¡¡¨Rising¡¡Generation£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡There¡¡are¡¡things¡¡in¡¡this¡¡gallery¡¡over¡¡which¡¡the¡¡severest¡¡misanthrope¡¡must¡¡chucklethey¡¡are¡¡simply¡¡irresistible¡£¡¡Let¡¡any¡¡one¡¡take£»¡¡say¡¡that¡¡smallest¡¡sketch¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hapless¡¡mortal¡¡who¡¡has¡¡turned¡¡on¡¡the¡¡hot¡¡water¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bath¡¡and¡¡cannot¡¡turn¡¡it¡¡off¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡see¡¡if¡¡he¡¡is¡¡able¡¡to¡¡restrain¡¡his¡¡laughter¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡this¡¡one¡¡gift¡¡of¡¡producing¡¡instant¡¡mirth¡¡Leech¡¡is¡¡almost¡¡alone¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡would¡¡be¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡assail¡¡his¡¡manner¡¡and¡¡his¡¡skill£»¡¡but¡¡for¡¡sheer¡¡fun£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡invention¡¡of¡¡downright¡¡humorous¡¡situation£»¡¡he¡¡is¡¡unapproached£»¡¡except¡¡by¡¡Cruikshank¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡did¡¡a¡¡few¡¡illustrations¡¡to¡¡Dickens's¡¡Christmas¡¡books£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡bestknown¡¡bookillustrations¡¡properly¡¡so¡¡called¡¡are¡¡to¡¡¡¨Uncle¡¡Tom's¡¡Cabin£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡¡¨ic¡¡Histories¡¨¡¡of¡¡A'Beckett£»¡¡the¡¡¡¨Little¡¡Tour¡¡in¡¡Ireland£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡certain¡¡sporting¡¡novels¡¡by¡¡the¡¡late¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Surtees¡£¡¡¡¡Tenniel¡¡now¡¡confines¡¡himself¡¡almost¡¡exclusively¡¡to¡¡the¡¡weekly¡¡cartoons¡¡with¡¡which¡¡his¡¡name¡¡is¡¡popularly¡¡associated¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡years¡¡ago¡¡he¡¡used¡¡to¡¡invent¡¡the¡¡most¡¡daintily¡¡fanciful¡¡initial¡¡letters£»¡¡and¡¡many¡¡of¡¡his¡¡admirers¡¡prefer¡¡the¡¡serio¡¡grotesque¡¡designs¡¡of¡¡¡¨Punch's¡¡PocketBook£»¡¨¡¡¡¨Alice¡¡in¡¡Wonderland£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡¡¨Through¡¡the¡¡LookingGlass£»¡¨¡¡to¡¡the¡¡always¡¡correctlydrawn¡¡but¡¡sometimes¡¡stifflyconceived¡¡cartoons¡£¡¡¡¡What£»¡¡for¡¡example£»¡¡could¡¡be¡¡more¡¡delightful¡¡than¡¡the¡¡picture£»¡¡in¡¡¡¨Alice¡¡in¡¡Wonderland£»¡¨¡¡of¡¡the¡¡¡¨Mad¡¡Tea¡¡Party£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡Observe¡¡the¡¡hopelessly¡¡distraught¡¡expression¡¡of¡¡the¡¡March¡¡hare£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡eager¡¡incoherence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hatter£¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡little¡¡further¡¡on¡¡the¡¡pair¡¡are¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡squeeze¡¡the¡¡dormouse¡¡into¡¡the¡¡teapot£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡few¡¡pages¡¡back¡¡the¡¡blue¡¡caterpillar¡¡is¡¡discovered¡¡smoking¡¡his¡¡hookah¡¡on¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡a¡¡mushroom¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡exactly¡¡three¡¡inches¡¡long£»¡¡says¡¡the¡¡veracious¡¡chronicle£»¡¡but¡¡what¡¡a¡¡dignity£¡what¡¡an¡¡oriental¡¡flexibility¡¡of¡¡gesture£¡¡¡¡¡Speaking¡¡of¡¡animals£»¡¡it¡¡must¡¡not¡¡be¡¡fotten¡¡that¡¡Tenniel¡¡is¡¡a¡¡master¡¡in¡¡this¡¡line¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡¡¨British¡¡Lion£»¡¨¡¡in¡¡particular£»¡¡is¡¡a¡¡most¡¡imposing¡¡quadruped£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡often¡¡in¡¡request¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡go¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡famous¡¡cartoons¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Indian¡¡mutiny¡¡to¡¡seek¡¡for¡¡examples¡¡of¡¡that¡¡magnificent¡¡presence¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡a¡¡specimen¡¡of¡¡the¡¡artist's¡¡treatment¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lesser¡¡felidae£»¡¡the¡¡reader's¡¡attention¡¡is¡¡invited¡¡to¡¡this¡¡charming¡¡little¡¡kitten¡¡from¡¡¡¨Through¡¡the¡¡LookingGlass¡£¡¨
Mr¡£¡¡Tenniel¡¡is¡¡a¡¡link¡¡between¡¡Leech¡¡and¡¡the¡¡younger¡¡school¡¡of¡¡¡¨Punch¡¨¡¡artists£»¡¡of¡¡whom¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Gee¡¡du¡¡Maurier£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Linley¡¡Sambourne£»¡¡and¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Charles¡¡Keene¡¡are¡¡the¡¡most¡¡illustrious¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡first¡¡is¡¡nearly¡¡as¡¡popular¡¡as¡¡Leech£»¡¡and¡¡is¡¡certainly¡¡a¡¡greater¡¡favourite¡¡with¡¡cultivated¡¡audiences¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡is¡¡not¡¡so¡¡much¡¡a¡¡humorist¡¡as¡¡a¡¡satirist¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Thackeray¡¡type£»unsparing¡¡in¡¡his¡¡denunciation¡¡of¡¡shams£»¡¡affectations£»¡¡and¡¡flimsy¡¡pretences¡¡of¡¡all¡¡kinds¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡master¡¡of¡¡position¡¡and¡¡acplished¡¡draughtsman£»¡¡he¡¡excels¡¡in¡¡the¡¡delineation¡¡of¡¡¡¨society¡¨its¡¡bishops£»¡¡its¡¡¡¨professional¡¡beauties¡¨¡¡and¡¡¡¨aesthetes£»¡¨¡¡its¡¡nouveaux¡¡riches£»¡¡its¡¡distinguished¡¡foreigners£»¡¡while¡¡now¡¡and¡¡then¡¡£¨but¡¡not¡¡too¡¡often£©¡¡he¡¡lets¡¡us¡¡know¡¡that¡¡if¡¡he¡¡chose¡¡he¡¡could¡¡be¡¡equally¡¡happy¡¡in¡¡depicting¡¡the¡¡lowest¡¡classes¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡barroom¡¡scene¡¡not¡¡long¡¡ago¡¡in¡¡¡¨Punch¡¨¡¡which¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡clearest¡¡evidence¡¡of¡¡this¡£¡¡¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡those¡¡for¡¡whom¡¡no¡¡good¡¡thing¡¡is¡¡good¡¡enough¡¡plain£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡said£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡lacks¡¡varietythat¡¡he¡¡is¡¡too¡¡constant¡¡to¡¡one¡¡type¡¡of¡¡feminine¡¡beauty¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡any¡¡one¡¡who¡¡will¡¡be¡¡at¡¡the¡¡pains¡¡to¡¡study¡¡a¡¡group¡¡of¡¡conventional¡¡¡¨society¡¨¡¡faces¡¡from¡¡any¡¡of¡¡his¡¡¡¨At¡¡Homes¡¨¡¡or¡¡¡¨Musical¡¡Parties¡¨¡¡will¡¡speedily¡¡discover¡¡that¡¡they¡¡are¡¡really¡¡very¡¡subtly¡¡diversified¡¡and¡¡contrasted¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡a¡¡case¡¡in¡¡point£»¡¡take¡¡the¡¡decorously¡¡sympathetic¡¡group¡¡round¡¡the¡¡sensitive¡¡German¡¡musician£»¡¡who¡¡is¡¡¡¨veeping¡¨¡¡over¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡positions¡£¡¡¡¡Or¡¡follow¡¡the¡¡titter¡¡running¡¡round¡¡that¡¡amused¡¡assembly¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡the¡¡tenor¡¡warbler¡¡is¡¡singing¡¡¡¨Meeeet¡¡me¡¡once¡¡again£»¡¨¡¡with¡¡such¡¡passionate¡¡emphasis¡¡that¡¡the¡¡domestic¡¡cat¡¡mistakes¡¡it¡¡for¡¡a¡¡wellknown¡¡area¡¡cry¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡for¡¡his¡¡ladies£»¡¡it¡¡may¡¡perhaps¡¡be¡¡conceded¡¡that¡¡his¡¡type¡¡is¡¡a¡¡little¡¡persistent¡£¡¡¡¡Still¡¡it¡¡is¡¡a¡¡type¡¡so¡¡refined£»¡¡so¡¡graceful£»¡¡so¡¡attractive¡¡altogether£»¡¡that¡¡in¡¡the¡¡jarring¡¡of¡¡less¡¡wellfavoured¡¡realities¡¡it¡¡is¡¡an¡¡advantage¡¡to¡¡have¡¡it¡¡always¡¡before¡¡our¡¡eyes¡¡as¡¡a¡¡standard¡¡to¡¡which¡¡we¡¡can¡¡appeal¡£¡¡Mr¡£¡¡du¡¡Maurier¡¡is¡¡a¡¡fertile¡¡bookillustrator£»¡¡whose¡¡hand¡¡is¡¡frequently¡¡seen¡¡in¡¡the¡¡¡¨Cornhill£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡elsewhere¡£¡¡¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡his¡¡best¡¡work¡¡of¡¡this¡¡kind¡¡is¡¡in¡¡Douglas¡¡Jerrold's¡¡¡¨Story¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Feather£»¡¨¡¡in¡¡Thackeray's¡¡¡¨Ballads£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡the¡¡large¡¡edition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡¡¨Ingoldsby¡¡Legends£»¡¨¡¡to¡¡which¡¡Leech£»¡¡Tenniel£»¡¡and¡¡Cruikshank¡¡also¡¡contributed¡£¡¡One¡¡of¡¡his¡¡prettiest¡¡positions¡¡is¡¡the¡¡group¡¡here¡¡reproduced¡¡from¡¡¡¨Punch's¡¡Almanack¡¨¡¡for¡¡1877¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡talent¡¡of¡¡his¡¡colleague£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Linley¡¡Sambourne£»¡¡may¡¡fairly¡¡be¡¡styled¡¡unique¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡pare¡¡it¡¡with¡¡anything¡¡in¡¡its¡¡way£»¡¡except¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡happier¡¡efforts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡late¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Charles¡¡Bent£»¡¡to¡¡which£»¡¡nevertheless£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡greatly¡¡superior¡¡in¡¡execution¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡this¡¡clever¡¡artist's¡¡invention¡¡everything¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡present¡¡itself¡¡with¡¡a¡¡train¡¡of¡¡fantastic¡¡accessory¡¡so¡¡whimsically¡¡inexhaustible¡¡that¡¡it¡¡almost¡¡overpowers¡¡one¡¡with¡¡its¡¡prodigality¡£¡¡¡¡Each¡¡fresh¡¡examination¡¡of¡¡his¡¡designs¡¡discloses¡¡something¡¡overlooked¡¡or¡¡unexpected¡£¡¡¡¡Let¡¡the¡¡reader¡¡study¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡the¡¡famous¡¡¡¨Birds¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Feather¡¨¡¡of¡¡1875£»¡¡or¡¡that¡¡ingenious¡¡skit¡¡of¡¡1877¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡rival¡¡Grosvenor¡¡Gallery¡¡and¡¡Academy£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡the¡¡late¡¡President¡¡of¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡is¡¡shown¡¡as¡¡the¡¡proudest¡¡of¡¡peacocks£»¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡whose¡¡tail¡¡are¡¡portraits¡¡of¡¡Royal¡¡Academicians£»¡¡and¡¡whose¡¡bodyfeathers¡¡are¡¡paint¡¡brushes¡¡and¡¡shillings¡¡of¡¡admission¡£¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Sambourne¡¡is¡¡excellent£»¡¡too£»¡¡at¡¡adaptations¡¡of¡¡popular¡¡pictures£»witness¡¡the¡¡more¡¡than¡¡happy¡¡parodies¡¡of¡¡Herrman's¡¡¡¨A¡¡Bout¡¡d'Arguments£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡¡¨Une¡¡Bonne¡¡Histoire¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡His¡¡bookillustrations¡¡have¡¡been¡¡paratively¡¡few£»¡¡those¡¡to¡¡Burnand's¡¡laughable¡¡burlesque¡¡of¡¡¡¨Sandford¡¡and¡¡Merton¡¨¡¡being¡¡among¡¡the¡¡best¡£¡¡¡¡Rumour¡¡asserts¡¡that¡¡he¡¡is¡¡at¡¡present¡¡engaged¡¡upon¡¡Kingsley's¡¡¡¨Water¡¡Babies£»¡¨¡¡a¡¡subject¡¡which¡¡might¡¡almost¡¡be¡¡supposed¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡created¡¡for¡¡his¡¡pencil¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡are¡¡indications£»¡¡it¡¡may¡¡be¡¡added£»¡¡that¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Sambourne's¡¡talents¡¡are¡¡by¡¡no¡¡means¡¡limited¡¡to¡¡the¡¡domain¡¡in¡¡which¡¡for¡¡the¡¡present¡¡he¡¡chooses¡¡to¡¡exercise¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡impossible¡¡that¡¡he¡¡may¡¡hereafter¡¡take¡¡high¡¡rank¡¡as¡¡a¡¡cartoonist¡£¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Charles¡¡Keene£»¡¡a¡¡selection¡¡from¡¡whose¡¡sketches¡¡has¡¡recently¡¡been¡¡issued¡¡under¡¡the¡¡title¡¡of¡¡¡¨Our¡¡People£»¡¨¡¡is¡¡unrivalled¡¡in¡¡certain¡¡bourgeois£»¡¡military£»¡¡and¡¡provincial¡¡types¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡one¡¡can¡¡draw¡¡a¡¡volunteer£»¡¡a¡¡monthly¡¡nurse£»¡¡a¡¡Scotchman£»¡¡an¡¡¡¨ancient¡¡mariner¡¨¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wateringplace¡¡species£»¡¡with¡¡such¡¡absolutely¡¡humorous¡¡verisimilitude¡£¡¡¡¡Personages£»¡¡too£»¡¡in¡¡whose¡¡eyesto¡¡use¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Swiveller's¡¡euphemism¡¨the¡¡sun¡¡has¡¡shone¡¡too¡¡