The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-24 00:00:00

CHARLES KEENE, THE ARTIST.

The fact that an Englishman has betaken himself, con
amore, to the study of the bagpipe is probably wholly un-
precedented in the annals of Great Britain, and certainly
deserves to be recorded for other reasons than its rarity.
And when it is mentioned that this student is one of the
most accomplished artists on the staff of Punch, I am sure
the satisfaction of Scotchmen will only be equalled by their
astonishment. Punch cannot, I fear, be altogether exone-
rated from participation in that senseless depreciation
of the musical properties of the Scottish bagpipe which
so many small wits have been guilty of ; but the injured
instrument has nobly revenged the insults that have been
heaped upon it. By its own inherent power and pathos,
it has penetrated the ranks of its enemies, and has capti-
vated one of their most distinguished leaders. Some
months ago, readers of Punch might have observed
an initial illustration representing a gentleman
playing the bagpipe. That was a portrait of the convert
at his favourite recreation, executed by himself, and sent
forth as a formal public declaration of his conversion.
As the gentleman to whom I refer has thus given pro-
minence to his partiality for the bagpipe, I need
not hesitate to mention that his name is Mr.
Charles Keene, and that he is the artist whose
highly-finished drawings, signed "C. K." have ap-
peared in Punch almost every week during the
past twelve or fiteen years. The artistic excel-
lence of Mr. Keene's work has long been recognised by
all lovers of art, but few of those who weekly admire his
sketches know the name of the artist who produces them.
He has somehow never acquired a personal reputation
like that enjoyed by Mr. Tenniel, for instance—and re-
mains comparatively unknown, while his sketches are
laughed at and approved by all. In his own walk, Mr.
Keene is unrivalled. No artist has ever succeeded
better in depicting the common places in face and
figure. Properly speaking, he is not a caricaturist ; he is
simply a great artist, with a predilection for humourous
and somewhat vulgar subjects. He has never drawn a
beautiful woman or child, or even a heroic man's face, but
his prospective is marvellous, and every figure is sur-
rounded with the atmosphere. His sketches are fuller
reproductions of what they represent than the paintings
of nine-tenths of the Royal Academicians. His range
of subjects. is very limited, artists and volunteers
forming the staple of his studies, but his mastery
is perfect within that range. Nothing will explain the
restricted scope of Mr. Keene's personal reputation,
however, except his own modest retiring disposition.
His friends affirm that he finds more pleasure in playing
dance music to his children on one of those sets of bag-
pipes he possesses than he would in any sort of fame. I
may state that Mr. Keene is a native of Ipswich, and
about forty years of age, and that he is an accomplished
fiddler as well as a piper.—London Correspondent of the
Dundee Advertiser.

MAN LOST IN THE SNow.—During the heavy
gale and snow-drift on Tuesday night, William Skene,
sheriff's-officer, Tarland, near Ballater, perished in the
snow while on his way home from Dunnet.
THE POLITICAL PRISONERS' FAMILIES. —On
Sunday placards were posted in Cork, announcing that
the annual collection in aid of the families of the political
prisoners would be made there on Christmas Day.— Cork
Examiner.,

ICE ON THE ELBE.—Telegrann have reached New-
castle-on-Tyne, from Hamburg, with instructions not to
send any more screw steamers out at present with coals,
as the Elbe was blocked with ice, and heavy snow storms
were prevailing. The weather on this coast is more
settled.

PRUSSIA AND THE NETHERLANDS.—SOIIIO days
back four escaped French prisoners, who had taken refuge
in the territory of the Netherlands, were given- up to
Prussia by the Dutch authorities. This must afford evi-
dence of the intimidation which Prussia exercises over the
small States surrounding her.
HER MAJESTY'S NEW YEAR'S GIFTS. The
Queen's New Year's gifts to the poor of the parishes of
New Windsor, Holy Trinity, and Clewer will be distri-
buted on Saturday, the 31st of December, New-Year's-
day falling on Sunday. The gifts consist of beef and
coals.

PRESENTATION TO THE EX-CHAIRMAN OF THE
MIDLAND RAILWAY.—The testimonial voted by the Mid-
land shareholders at their general meeting on the 16th of
February, 1870, to their late chairman, Mr. W. E.
`Hutchinson, has been presented to him at a complimen-
tary dinner given at the Midland Hotel, Derby. The
chair was taken by the present chairman of the company,
Mr. W. P. Price, MT., and was attended by all the
directors and principal officers of the company. The tes-
timonial took the form of a portrait of the late chairman,
painted by'Mr. John Lucas, of St. John's-wood, London,
and also of a handsome service of plate.