The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-05 00:00:00

(From the 7emple Bar .31a.9; azinel

Comic Literature, if we may judge from the abundance
of the supply, is at the present time in great demand. In-
deed, comic publications have become almost as great a
nuisance as the organs. They stare you in the face from
every stationer's window ; they are fluttered about you at
every street-corner : they are rushed under your nose in
every public vehicle ; and even when you take train, and
leave London hundreds of miles behind you, their names
are bawled at you through the carriage window at every
stoppage on the way. They are everywhere; plentiful as
blackberries, and cheap as--dirt.
This was not wont to be. There were happier times a
very few years ago. Until the lively sixties came in, re-
peated trials provod the fact that there was no room for
more than one comic publication. Rivals to Punch sprang
up one after another, but only to sink into an early grave
after a few, weeks or months of feeble existence. Some of
them were not so clever but that they might have lived ;
but in their swaddling-days the nourishment of public
support was denied to them, and so they pined and died
before they got a grasp of life. It WAS said that they were
not wanted ; that there were not readers for them ; that
one comic paper was enough for the public requirement;
and there seemed to be valid evidence in support of this
conclusion. Of' every other kind of publication there was
a variety of the comic, but one single permanent example.
This certainly seemed to argue that the public which sup-
ported the purely comic was a very limited one.
But, presto! we have changed all this in a twinkling. It
is only two or three years since comic literature was at a
discount, and now it is at a high premium. Punch has now
two rivals, Fun and the Comic News ; and there seems to
be ample room for all three. As the price of the two latter
is "only a penny," they must, if they pay expenses, count
their purchasers by tens of thousands. How comes this ?
The distinguished theologian Barrow, who discoursed of
wit and humour in his sermons, laid it down as a dictum
that witty and humorous writing could only flourish in a
re
fined and highly educated community. Are we to con-
clude then that the march of intellect has done it—that three
comic papers are the natural results of education-grants, the
repeal of the taxes on knowledge, and middle-class exami-
nations ?

From a weekly acquaintance with these publications—
which I have been unable to avoid—l am compelled to
answer this question in the negative. Indeed I should be
inclined to say quite the contrary. I can conscientiously
lay my hand on my heart and declare that, for many weeks
past, I have not met with anything in Punch, Fun, or the
Comic Hews which could in any way be supposed to appeal
either to education or refinement. The wit, humour, and
pointed sarcasm of former years—that golden age of comic
literature when Hood, Jerrold, and Thackeray contributed
to it—have degenerated into nonsense—sheer, wilful non-
sense. This sort of nonsense which consists of wild exag-
geration, vulgar anti-climax, and outrageous punning, or
rather word- twisting, is now the prevailing form of comic
literature. It is utterly without idea or purpose ; it has no
subtlety of meaning—often no meaning at all; it has no
foundation in thought or reflection ; and it appeals only to
the sense of humour which takes delight in upsetting an
old barrow-woman, or sending a poor dog scudding along
with a tin-kettle tied to its tail. To a man of thought,
intellect, and refinement, it is an insult and an offence.
Before r proceed to make good these words by an exami-
nation of the publications in question, I must charge the
degradation into which this species of literature has fallen
mainly upon the head of the conductors of Punch. For
many years that publication enjoyed a well-deserved repu-
tation for humorous and witty writing of the highest class.
many of the pieces contributed to its pages by the three
writers above named are now enrolled among the English
classics. Mr. Hood is known by nothing so widely as
by his "Song of the Shirt," which he contributed to
Punch. Mr. Jerrold and Mr. Thackeray might well be
content to rest their reputation solely on their con-
tributions to the same periodical. In the whole range of
humorous writing there is, perhaps, nothing equal to the
latter gentleman's " Jeames'e Diary," " Imitations of Eng-
lish Authors,'' and "Irish Ballads." The "Battle of
Limerick" is as familiar in every memory as the "Needy
Knife-grinder." But a time came when Punch, bereft of
and deserted by these brilliant contributors, became insuf-
ferably dull and stupid, and elected to remain so. It lived
upon its past reputation, and the attraction of Mr. Leech
and Mr. Doyle's incomparable sketches. But destitute as
Punch now found himself, he resolutely shut his door
against the wealth of wit that was rising around him. He
shut his door, the ponderous weight of dullness that
was
left him firmly set his back against it. "No smart
young man wanted here" was the notice permanently
posted over the office in Fleet-street. The joke-loving
public might starve first. So the smart young men, who
might have recovered and sustained the reputation of the
paper, were driven to start organs for themselves. Readers
of this class of literature will remember the Han in the
Noon, Diogenes, and the Comic Times. In everything but
the pictorial department these publications were superior to
Punch. Had the young wits, whose lively fancy sparkled in
their columns, been associated with Mr. Leech, Mr. Doyle,
and Mr. Tenniel, comic literature might have been saved
from sinking into the slough of degradation in which it
now wallows. Punch, however, held his citadel of dulness
against all comers, and the smart young men—they ought
to be thankful now—found a healthier outlet for their
talent in the cheap magazines and newspapers which sprang
up on the repeal of the paper duty. Comic literature had now
become so contemptible that it was universally despised. No
young man of any talent cared to enrol himself in the ranks
of a set of writers who inspired no feeling save that of
pity and contempt. The very name of the comic writer
had become synonymous with weakness and imbecility.
Thus comic writing drivelled on in a narrow channel
until a great revival took place—a revival originated and
fostered by the degradation of the public taste. The
two great agents that had been at work in this direc-
tion were the theatres and the music-halls. The theatres
popularised burlesques, and the music hells comic songs.
These new agents of civilisation had hard work at first ;
but they succeeded in the end. Puns and parodies and the
" Cure's dance" awoke a dull and sluggish generation to the
appreciation of true wit and humour. With the assistance
of gin and pipes and saucy female legs, the leaven worked,
until even grave and solemn judges on the bench began to
talk of the fascinating Nancy who resided in a second-
floor in the Strand. The author of " Nancy" achieved a
popularity exceeding even that of the Laureate; and it is
said that "Nancy" brought him a horse and gig, and that
he rode while the author of the " Idylls of the King "
walked on foot. The public, thus educated, demanded an
addition to its comic literature, and the demand was sup-
plied. Appreciation was so widely awakened, that one
addition was not enough—there was room for two ; and poor
old Punch, to keep pace with the progress of the age, was
obliged to unbolt his door, and take a smart young man of
the time into partnership to save the firm from bankruptcy,
That must have been a bitter day for the remnant of the old
crew—the poor battered veterans with one eye and one arm
and one leg—the Von Joels, who, on account of their long
services, were always to be retained on the establishment so
long as they Gould give farmyard imitations and play tunes
upon a walking-stick.
Punch's envy and covetousness were excited by a new
and highly successful kind of wit, which was first intro-
duced in the columns of Fun. It was downright nonsense;
but lively nonsense is better than dull nonsense. and Punch
was glad to take a leaf out of the new book. This was the
style of thing which Punch was driven to substitute for the
rich humour of Hood, the keen wit of Jerrold, and the
brilliant sarcasm of Thackeray
" A FACT NOT GENERALLY KNOWN.—Many people
wonder why the sun sets. Nothing, however, is more easy
of explanation; when tired with, its day's journey, what
more natural than it should set ? '
"DIARY : —First Sunday in the month ; teetotalers may
therefore feel firsty it inclined."
if Friday,—Grand race for the championship of light
weights between Commissioner Fane and the Archbishop
of York. The course will be from Colney Hatch (the
private residence of C. F.) by special train to Moresley
Hurst, where a few rounds will be fought on the square ;
after which the brave fellows will each eat fifteen slack-
baked apple-dumplings, and live happily ever afterwards."
" If your garden is limited in extent, a good way to in-
crease it is as follows :—Place the four fingers of your right
(by this means you can't go wrong) hand into the crack of
a door; get some one—a boy just home from school is per-
haps best—to shut the door violently. You will then at
once have four achers ; and what more is wanted ?"
" How TO PREPARE A FARM-YARD FOR THE RECEP-
TION OF CATTLE,—First strew well with broken glass and
rusty nails, after which chop plenty of logic (this makes
excellent dry food for digestion), and garnish with some
milk of human kindness, if you can get it, though gene-.
rally it is very scarce ; finally, be cheerful, and sing ha-ha."

The wit of this is suppposed to lie in its likeness to the utter-
ances of a lunatic. Is it not more like the utterance of an

idiot ?
" ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENTS.—' Mad Wriggle.'
We don't know in what oratorios there is *horns begin-
ning Whack row-de-dow fol-de riddle-i.do; but we are
quite sure that the song For he's a Jolly Good Fellow is
not in Judas lfaccabeus."
" A Lover of Order,' asks, Can I knock down and?
trample on my wife without fear of legal puniahnient
Certainly—what else is the Stamp Act for but to afford
facility for amusements of this nature ?"
" Mixed Pickles' wants to know how to keep his hair
bright. Get some plate powder, which place carefully en
the required spot, and then—now, attend to this--there's

the ruli."
Lest any one should conceive it impossible that the above
could ever have been deliberately printed and offered to the
publio for wit, I beg to refer the reader to Fun, No. 104, p.
259. This sort of thing is now the staple of Punch's fun.
The modus operandi ig to be traced in every department of
the publication, so that either the young hand writes the
whole of the paper, or the old hands have learnt to imitate
him. But there seems to be a malignant influence in the
atmosphere of that corner near St. (rides n it-
church • a
fluence tending to the softening of the brain and thedash-
ing-
ing of tke spirits. Brisk young wit does not keep in that
quarter. It grows rapidly flat. The peculiar mannerim-
ported from a region a few doors more to the west has lost
oitiscevietpaliiatyraimamthaetienemworssoeills. Let us examine some
which are to be found
somcfautthetheerocehfd through a recent monthly part of Punch :
" ANTIQUARIAN.—The monks of old were famous for
baking. Among the most celebrated of their productions
is the roll of Battle Abbey,"
" LA DANSE'—Auong other fitehionable attuunceraento

we read that Count M. G. de Wezle has left Eaton-square
for Norfolk. Pop goes do Wezele."
One might have hoped that the weasel had gone to sleep
lorg ago.
The Comic News, the youngest of the three jokers, jokes
on a principle entirely its own. The editor, Mr. Henry
Byron, may congratulate himself--and perhaps pride him-
self—upon having created his own public. Before the era
of perennial burlesques not one in a thousand would have
seen the fun of the jokes in the Comic News. That they see
it now is entirely owing to Mr. Byron's successful teaching
at the Strand and the Adelphi. The wit of the Comic News
consists almost exclusively in the twisting and distorting
of words from their ordinary and pcoper meaning to mean
nothing at all. This is carried to such an extent in all de-
partments of the paper, that you are not sure whether the
imprint, the advertisements, and the announcements of the
publisher as to the monthly parts and the cases :for binding,
are intended fur jukes or not. The design is to copy the
features of a newspaper, and to give a comic aspect to all
the affairs of life—to politics, science, literature, art, eorn-
mercy, law, and crime, scarcely stopping short of comic births
and deaths. One would imagine Mr. Byron to be the
happiest man alive, He views all things through the same
medium. The politics that involves the lives of millions i
arc to him but the occasion for a pun; the science which is
destined to inaugurate a new era of civilisation, the theme
for a jest; the literature
,designed to elevate and (instruct
the age, the subject for a parody; the crime which makes
all men else shudder, the matter for a right merry conceit.
As you read, you wonder if this unsparing and non-inter-
mittent joker makes puns in his prayers, if he discovers
jokes in the Bible, and sees fan in the Burial Service.
The writers in the Comic News are not ecllectics. It never
occurs to them that there are certain affairs of life which
are serious and do not admit of being joked about. To
adopt one of their pet phrases, they " go the whole hog."
As an earnest that they will stick at nothing, the heading
of the paper exhibits a comic pictorial parody of the royal
arms, the motto of the most honourable Order of the Garter
"rig facetiously rendered, "On His Walk he Madly
Puns;" and the legend, " Dieu et mon Droit " finds its
comic equivalent in " Due a Monday," referring,' as it
appears, to the on which the C •N's is pulished.

Royal Institute of British Architects.

The session of the above institute— was opened on
Monday evening, the 2d instant, b an address from
the President, Mr. T. L. DONA.DyS when there
was a large attendance of members
thatacnNd' associates.
The learned Professor remarkedwithinit the
few months that had elapsed since they as met,
events had occurred which were interesting to them
as a body and as individuals, and he should pass in
brief review some of the more important topics con-
nected with their profession. It was due to the
great man who had recently passed away from them
(the late Mr. C. R. Cockerell), the first professional
President of the Institute, and to whom the first
gold medal was awarded, to notice some of his (the
President's) own impressions during an intimacy
and personal friendship of 40 years. He then gave
a graphic sketch of the professional career of Mr.
Cockerel!, from the early days of his travels in
Greece, Italy, and Turkey, to the close of a long life
of ardent devotion to his profession, and referred
to the principal works with which the name of that
gentleman was associated. It might truly be said
that architecture was his delight. In him the
young architect always found an encouraging
monitor, ever ready to assist and develop latent
talent. A more complete biography of their late
friend was in course of preparation, and would be
brought before the members at an early period of
the session. With the gracious concurrence of
the Dean of St. Paul's their esteemed friend was
buried with the great and noble of the land; and
whatever might be the little jealousies of practical
life, as architects they must feel proud that they
had a Barry in Westminster Abbey, and a Cockerell
in St. Paul's. The president then proceeded to pay
a tribute of respect to the late Mr. Joseph Gwilt,
though not a member of the institute at the time of
his decease, and mentioned that he was consulted
by the Government in the re-modelling of the
Building Act of 1853-54. He then went on to re-
mark that one of the most important proceedings of
the institute during the recess had been the steps
taken by them in opposition to the proposed pur-
chase of the Exhibition building of 1862 by the
nation. As soon as notice was given that it was
the intention of the Government to apply to Parlia-
ment for a grant of money for the purchase of the
building, and for a still larger sum for the purpose
of converting it into a national museum, the council
of the institute convened a special meeting of the
members and fellows, at which a committee was
appointed to report upon the subject. That com-
mittee made a thorough examination of the building
and drew up a well-digested and important report,
and pronounced their opinion that whilst the struc-
ture might have satisfactorily fulfilled the specific
objects for which it was designed, it would be most
unwise to attempt to convert it into a permanent
structure, for which it was not designed. This judg-
ment of the highest professional body in the country
was irresistible, and was endorsed by the House of
Commons, who rejected the proposal by an over-
whelming majority. The learned president then
touched upon the subject of architectural education,
and remarked upon the absence in this country of
any recognised system of education applicable to
that profession. The student in architecture was
for the most part left to his unguided experience,
gleaned in the office of his employer, where he only
became familiar with the works that were there
carried out. They had not in this country as yet
the atelier of the professor, as was the case in France,
where also there were periodical competitions in
the schools of architecture, The disadvantages
under which students laboured were sought to be
in some degree obviated by this institute in the
establishment of the voluntary architectural exa-
mination in which the branches of study were pre-
scribed, as also the steps to be attained to gain dis-
tinction. These examinations, he said, afforded to
young men the true idea of their power of weak -
nesses—if they failed, they must work ,to .
for
obtain
the know'edge in which they were deficient it
was better they should be taught their weaknesses
in
in early life than deserve them later years by
disastrous failure in their professional objects. He
trusted next January to see students come to the
examinations with as much zeal as was the case upon
the last occasion, and in undiminished numbers.
Having passed a warm eulogium.upon the talents of
Brunel,
Stephenson, and Barry in their respective
spheres, the president proceeded to take a
general review
of the progress of profes-
sional publications in this country, particularly
illustrated works on architecture, during the last
few years. He next referred to the scale of profes-
sional charges which had been drawn up by the
institute, remarking that this had been done as
much for the protection of the employer as the em-
ployed, and for the honour of their profession any
question with respect to these charges ought to be
liberally interpreted in favour of the employer ; and
as they had founded that scale, on no other ground
should it be regarded as authoritative or conclusive
on such a question. The president then referred
with satisfaction to the fact that the Metropolitan
Board of Works had accepted a tender of over half
a million of money for the Thames Embankment
from Westminster to Waterloo•bridge' and were
raking steps for the same work from the Temple to
Blackfriars. It was presumed that the same would
be done with the south side ; and when that great
work was carried out, it would present an aspect of
magnificence worthy of the metropolis of this great
empire. Referring to the railway bridges across
the streets, he regretted that artistic taste had been
so much sacrificed to the convenience of the public,
and, these bridges might be characterised as hideous
masses of utilitarian skill.
Alluding to street im-
provements,
it Was to be regretted that a parsimo-
nious spirit in too many cases, both in London and
other large cities, poreveited, these improvements
being carried out commensurate4unesatiofafs cafe and it
had come to be a w thousa,nds of
pounds whether a quew streetno should' be 70 or 80
feet in width. After referring to the subject of the
dwellings of the poor in the metropolis,
the
professor concluded with a glowing per oration upon learned
architecture, te proposal of
A vote of thanks was Passed' °n
W att
Mr. Gilbert Scott, seconded by Ir. y y .

THE VINTAGES OF GERMANY AND THE PENIN-
SULA.—The vintage reports from Spain and Portn
gal are the moat favourable that have been received for
many years—the best probably since that mysterious dis-
ease, the oidium, attacked the grape, about the same time
as the potato crop gave way. Yet in the face of this the
price of wine is steadily rising. This year's port is like
the vintages that used to be in days of old—rich and abun
dant; but it will be long before it can affect the pt.l-ee- n;
vintage is a
what we set upon our table. The German pig
Ail= in guality—no better than that of 1860.

SECOND EDETION.,

SUN OFFICE, HALF-PAST 4 O'CLOCK.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE—This Day,

HEREFORD RACES-THIS DAY.
(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
TRIAL STAKES.

Buckland
Fletton
Belladrurn - a

Five rax.
HEREFORDSHIRE STAKES.

Blondin
Lothian's King
.)

Five ran.
TOWN PLATE.

Littlecotc,
..................
Jessie ...................
riukcpoo
Four ran.
HURDLE RACE.

Pot Pourri .............................. 1
Whitehall. .........................
,-•
•• -

Seven ran.
NURSERY nANDICAP.

Victoria Cross .................................. 1
Cosette ....

Bank of England Return.---This Day.

An Account, pursuant te the Act 7th and Bth Victoria,
cap. 32, for the week ending on Wednesday, the 4th da
of Nov., 1863:

ISSUE DEPARTMENT.