New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-19
PINCH AND JONATHAN.

PUNCH AND JONATHAN.
The Eastern War has caused many mischief
We will say nothing of the millions it has squan-
dered the myriads it has butchcrcd the hearts it
has broken, the poverty and hunger it has multi
| piled, the base passions il has nOurshed. These
things follow in the train of all wars. 1t has dam
| aged good many regulations also. But that is
| common too; and as long as it damaged only
Field-Marshals and Generals aud Admirals and
Cabinet Ministers we were able to bear up under
it. But when the war laid it, blghting hand upon
our jolly and agreeable friend Mr.. Punch, must
confess il touched us nearly. We owe grudge
to the Anglo French Alliance, if it were only for
the revolution il has worked at No. % Fleet
street, London. We have been accused of Rus
sian proclivities Ii it strange that should look
with al evil eye on any political arrangements that
have taken the flavor and the raciness clean out of
our Punch and left it often as Hat us dishwater I!
1t is u melancholy fact that this war has gone
nigh to ruin good Mr.. Punch. II has put him in
false position. From keen observer and caustic
satirst of men and measures which most urgently
invited the correction of his baton, il has turned
Linn into their apOogist panegyrist. Instead
of the genial humOr and trenchant wit we used to
admire 50 much, he has turned dealer in senti-
mental slipsop and patriotic twaddle Since he
went into the Ministerial line it fares with him
very much 0s it did with that ancestor OF his whom
All eccentric nobeman bought out of the streets
for his private diyersOn-thc fun has passed out
of him.
Now we accept this change of mood and Of hand
on The part of our wooden guide, philosopher and
friend as the denotement OF foregone conclusion.
The public mind in England would not bear to
have fun made of the things and people that have
been the legitimate subjects of raillery and satire.
Mr. Punch and Mrs. Judy, and the young Punchi-
nclloes must live, and there must be bone in the
cupboard for honest Toby and If the weekly dis
pensers Of threepence for his lucubratiOns do not
choose - the Brummagem Bonaparte," as he was
three little years ago, made odiOus and ridiculous
in their eyes, why he must be bowed to az our
ally the Imperial friend of England. Nor do we
mean TO attribute any mercenary meanness to our
great contemporary, but Mr. Punch is an English
man, and shares in the public feeling which per-
vades England. The war has s0ured and sad
dened the English people, and it has no relish for
the jests and qups which the Head Of the Depart
ment of Fun used to launch at the current foes
ard crimes of the day. and Mr.. Punch feels no
call to try and cram them into it's ears against the
stomach Of its sense.
Mr. Punch has been dull for the last year and n
half because the English nation has been sad md
indsposed TO mirth But what opportunities he
lost! The French Alliance itself! The visit OF the
Queen TO France, and that of Louis Napoleon to
England! What historic discrepancies what pO-
litica Inconsistencies, what subjects for the pencil
Whist themes for the pen did they not Offer But
il could not be- Neither Mr.. Punch nor his pur'
chasers wanted reminders OF these things. What
they wanted was DISCUSSES for them. proof of
this We take it, is to be found in the fate of D-
npenes, the sometime rival OF Punch, who did look
at the passing events and them in the points OF
view which offered opportunities for satirical
treatment and made good advantage Of them. His
text was much more in the ancient vein OF Punch
and more satircal and witty than Punch himself
since the change came over him, but he could not
carry it through. The English people refused TO
buy his wares and the poor ragged Philosopher
had 10 take his tub and his lanthon out OF the way.
Ii is sign of the times-a necessary sequence of
things gone beore-a proof that the Englishp people
wanted something different from the jibes and jo-
ments of FIVE years back-that Mr.. Punch has been
fain to alter his strain.
Mr. Punch is also the exponent of e further
change in English feeling in his very last number.
II contains the dedication of the twenty ninth vol
ume TO no less parsonage than Brother Jonathan
himself There is Jonathan sitting at the head Of
ii, with outsretched legs, in shirt half stripes
and half stars reading the volume, his cigar having
fallen Yet smoking the ground in his delights
and at the tail is the American eagle, in starred
Jacket ard striped trowsers, in Boston rocking
chair, with his feet on the mantepiece, ha, on head
and cigar in beak, whiting a stick with energy
truly national; behind him, the Russian eagle,
crestialen and abect, is sneaking out of the door
But there is tits thing observable about il; there IL
10 slaye-whiP under Jonathal's arm, no handouts