Title:  Punch, Volume 101, Jubilee Issue, July 18, 1891

Author:  Various

Release Date:  August 30, 2004 [EBook #13327]

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

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PUNCH,

Or the London charivari.

Vol. 101.

July 18, 1891.

MR. PUNCH’S JUBILEE NUMBER.

[Illustration]

“My Reminiscences!” said Mr. Punch, replying to a question put by his Interviewer, Anno DOMINI eighteen-Ninety-one; “They are already before the World, in exactly One Hundred Volumes!  My first ‘Number’ bore date ’for the week ending July 17th, 1841.  My memory is indeed stored with recollections, pleasant, picturesque, pathetic, of the teeming past, memories of my joyous ‘Table,’ of my well-beloved ’Young Men,’ of Great Names, of Genial Comrades, of Bright Wits, of Warm Hearts, of Famous Artists, of Clever Writers, who—­in the words of the greatest of them all—­

  ’Perched round the stem
  Of the jolly old tree.’

“How well the words of the wise wit written in 1847 express our thoughts to-day, Mr. Anno DOMINI:—­

  ’Here let us sport
  Boys, as we sit,
  Laughter and wit
  Flashing so free. 
  Life is but short—­
  When we are gone,
  Let them sing on
  Round the old tree.

  Evenings we knew
  Happy as this;
  Faces we miss
  Pleasant to see. 
  Kind hearts and true,
  Gentle and just,
  Peace to their dust! 
  We sing round the tree.’

It is one of my proudest memories to recollect that THACKERAY’s ‘Mahogany Tree,’ was my Table.”

“To have been Amphitryon to such guests must have been the most pleasant privilege of hospitality,” said Anno DOMINI.

“Very true,” responded Mr. Punch, “And of all my Deputy-Amphitryons—­if I may use the term—­who more fully, fitly, justly, and genially filled the post than the earliest of them all, the kindly and judicious mark Lemon?  Had not he and clever Henry Mayhew, and Mr. Printer last, and Ebenezer LANDELLS, my earliest engraver, foregathered first with me in furtherance of the ’new work of wit and whim,’ embellished with cuts and caricatures, to be called:—­

PUNCH; OR, THE LONDON CHARIVARI?