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Molesworths and Cantilupes of the day parading the Park； we watch
Brougham fretting at a hearing in the Lords； or Peel holding forth to the
Commons （where the Irish members are already obstructive）； we squeeze
in at the Haymarket 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
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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
little…worked 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 〃Newcomes；〃 where his satire and fancy
seem thoroughly suited to his text。 He has also illustrated Locker's well…
known 〃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 〃Newcomes；〃 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： 〃That admirable and devoted Major above all；who had been
for hours by Lady Clavering's side ministering to her and feeding her body
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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 ever…increasing gratification。 Then again； Thackeray's
little initial letters are charmingly arch and playful。 They seem to throw
a shy side…light 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 come a couple of well…known 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 bright…eyed rosy girls （〃with no
nonsense about them！〃） in pork pie hats and crinolines； the superlative
〃Jeames's；〃 the hairy 〃Mossoos；〃 the music…grinding 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
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unapproached； except by Cruikshank。 He did a few illustrations to
Dickens's Christmas books； but his best…known book…illustrations properly
so called are to 〃Uncle Tom's Cabin；〃 the 〃Comic 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 Pocket…Book；〃
〃Alice in Wonderland；〃 and 〃Through the Looking…Glass；〃 to the always
correctly…drawn but sometimes stiffly…conceived 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 forgotten 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 Looking…Glass。〃
Mr。 Tenniel is a link between Leech and the younger school of
〃Punch〃 artists； of whom Mr。 George du Maurier； Mr。 Linley Sambourne；
and Mr。 Charles Keene are the most illustrious。 The first is nea