The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-10-17
COMIC PERIODICALS.
Notes upon the Comic Literature OF Eng
lRnd-HOw the "FunnY" Journals
IAVod and Died.

Lived and Died,
An exceedingly interesting and curious book,
says the London Bookseller, might be written on
the influence and scope of comic literature
Tracing it from the "Clouds' OF Arlstophanes,
and the satrical libels of Pasquin, the roman
eobbler, the anti-Jacobiu journals OF the nIsJ
French revolution. the dGasconades" of the
same period, the ''Pindarics" OF Walcot, ana the
HJoe MillerlsmsD of the last century, 10 Ine
faceuR column of the modern penny perlOul-
cal, and the Yankeeisms OF the american
press the writer would nave luli scope
for his industry and ample margin lor MS wiz;
He would travel through the literature OF an
rivilized countries and mark how some cele-
brated witticism, some quaintp tprovero some Vene,
erable jeu despTit had passed from age to age and
from language to language; how the Don QulX-
oten of Cervantes had given birth to literature
Of its Own--of which the "Hudibras" OF Butler
and "Launcelot Greaves' OF SmOllett are familiar
examples how the spirit OF fun and satire had
invaded the stage, the press, and even the
serious writings OF historians and dlvines.
1t is impossible to give anything like COM
plete list of the facetious and satirical news
Tabers and magazines that have been published
in England during the present century. Such a
list has never been attempted; and at this day II
would be exceedingly difficult to compile, owing
to the very ephemeral nature OF many of the
humorous publications and the little attention
generally bestowed upon the preservation of
such of them as have been unsuccessful In the
British Museum Library there exist numerous
specimens of this kind OF literature; but the
trouble of searching in the catalogue for their
titles is only equalled by the disappointment
some of the most characteristic from the ma
1onal collection.
OF the earlier specimens of what may be called
'rPunchn periodicals, that is, semi-ne wspapers,
combining the facetious with the political or
satlrieal, and generally illustrated with eugrav.
1ngs more or less comic in their nature, we may
mention the folloWing:-
The ScOuTge; or, Monthly E1posttor-a a maga-
zine of politics and satire-was published by
W. n. Jones, of Newgate' street, in 1911, and
went through seven volumes, each number
being illustrated by hghly-colored, folded.in
political caricature, by George Cruikshank, then
ayoung man of eighteen; Sets Of the Scogrge
may still be found on the bookstalls in London
generally without the caTicatures.
The RuDp Chronicle, single page, published
in 1879, and devoted principally to the abuse of
Sir Francis Burdett. John Cam Hobhouse, and
other Wing politicians of the day, was adorned
with the figure of the hinder legs and tail of
caTt-horse; and as its humor was mainly polltl;;
cal, it lasted exactly six days; when 1t wrote and
published its own epitaph.
The Black DtodrJ, a weekly sheet of sixteen
pages In small Alto, published first by Steill, OF
Bartholomew Close, in 1917, and afterwards by
i. j. Wooler, of Sun street, Bishopgate, con-
tanned much political matter and few epi-
grams, for which its editor enjoyed the privilege
OF Government prosecution but was acquitted
by the jury. The Black D,ca,f took for its
motto distich from Pope:-
.satire's my weapons; but I'm too discreet
only wear it in a land OF Hectors.
Thieves, supercargoes. sharpers and directors"
II lasted about year, and was followed by
INC LSHOW DUWJY u IuuCu more nllQ specimen
OF criticism, which seems to have existed for
three months, and then to have died and left no
sign.
The Quizzical Gazette Extraordinary and Won.
delJW Advertiser, price sixpence, appeared on
the 1st of April, 1919, and was continued an
n1ally for eight years. always bearing date on
Pigs Meal; or Lessons for the S,Oinish
Multitude, a penny weekly, published by 7.
Spruce, at the Hive Of Liberty, No. 8 Little
Turnstile, Holborn, in l794-5-consstedo of prose
and verse, principally of satirical character;
but its title was modified, at the beginning of
its third volume, to Pigs Meat; or, Lessons for
he People, although the phrase was quoted
from Burke. A portrait of a pig, and various
small woodcuts illustrated the text of this book.
The Parrot, eotb a Comp pe1edt1tne Of the Times
was another periodical of semi-satirical and
political character; was also the Pic-Nic,
published in ls03 in shilling numbers. The
latter was the organ of the Dilettante Picnic
Club. But neither the Club nor its organ lived
more than few months.
From about 1870 to 1880 there seem to have
been no comic periodicals of any importance;
but on the 10th of December, 1881, there was
published the first number of Figaro in London
famous political pasquinade, which, though
IT frequently changed propretors and editors,
lasted from week to week for more than eight
years-in fact, almost up to the birth of Punch.
Figaro was framed on the Partisan model,
Many of our readers doubtless remember the
Woodcut of the political barber dressing the
Wings, and the motto from Lady Montague
beneath:-
''re should, Ike poish'd razor keen,
Sat.- 'th touch that's scarcely felt or seem"
V,ooyo IN Ioodon VS. the first of the comic
neri9dicals conducted with .ebilttJ and spirit.
Though its satire was always Of the sha.VpGsti ~ ~
was never vulgar or prOfane, Its success .'eu W
the establishment, in 1882, of Pu1lcbtneltC; d
penny weekly, of four pages, very similar III
character to the more modern comic publica
-'on with woodcuts from drawings by George
SiV7,,,.+ Cruikshank. Of somewhat similar
anu anotor was Asc9deuS; or, The Deou 5la Lon
ensrac'fs1 at fouTpage penny weekly. nlns'" ~,
Seymour, Sew and published '' ~, lss2 # lasted
thirtyseven VEGAS, and suceumbed. lis con-
ductors promised to carry it on as a siXpenny
monthly, under the title of the WdgS Magazine:
but we have not been able to ascertain whether it
ever appeared in the latter shape. The num-
bers were afterwards republished as the Devils
Memorandum BOok' Tor 1888.
DlbdtH's Penny Trumpet, "to be blown weekly
mot weakly throughout the British empire,
and farther If required!r was blown for just four
weeks in October, 1882, and then was heard no
more. The SchOOLnldSteT at Home was rather
more fortunate for 1t lasted during six whole
weeks OF the summer of 1882; longer it could
not be made TO live. 1t was succeeded by the
tribune of the People, which can only be ad-
mltted into the list of comic periodicals in
virtue of some rather weak jokes and epigrams
ana which In its turn was followed by the Whtg
dresser, a close imitation of Figaro.
Inc wing Dresser, which was really clever and
saIcastc, only lasted eleven weeks, and then
ahho2nced that 1t would, for the future, appear
mohthly' The success OF the Partisan Figaro
anu anu A,s d LONDON compeer naturally led to imita
non; ana various periodicals, under such titles
as the English Figaro the 6,5tjc6i Fi1Gro and
&loodnR' IN London, made their appearances
and amused the town for a few months
Oh the Sd OF June, 1887 the most noticeahle