Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-09-27
The Gcntlcman Caricatpr,.t



DRAUGHTsNAN OF "CHARIvARI"
The death Of the Prince OF French caricatur-
lists is known. He was known TO the public by
the pseudonym of ''Cham," name he assumed
most appropriately, as his father, the Marquis
de Noe, Peer OF France went very near treat
ing him as the original Noah treated the origi-
of following the glorious career of arms, he de-
voted himself TO the pencil Of the caricaturist
Cham died at the age OF 60 years, after having
afforded mirth for 40 years to the readers OF the
Chdripari, which may be termed the Punch OF
Paris, particularly as Punch is styled the Char
fuari OF London, with this difference, however,
that the writer's and artists of the Chdripari
days included, instead OF once a week only
Cham, it must be said, tried to be an obedient
son, and actually entered the Polytechnic
away from the mathematical studies which
should have made proficient artillery officer
OF him, and led him first to the atelier Of Paul
Delaroche, and afterward to that of Charlet.
In both, however, he was irredeemably addicted
to calfcature and comic drawings, and, recog-
nizihg his vocation, he abandoned himself to 1t
set was immense, though he had to contend
against such rivals as Gavarni and Daumief
Without being such a consummate artist as
either, he had great advantage over both. He
was not political partisan like Daumier, or
deep thinking satirist like Henry Monnier: he
contented himself with being witty and anus
ing without hurting the feelings Of any politl-
cal party or any religious sect. Therein was
seen the stamp OF the true French nobeman. /
would not for moment compare him to Ho-
garth. but he has one quality in common with
that great artist He is never immoral OF even
gross, and Of more than 100 albums he has pro-
duced, not one can be shown that would not be
In its place In the strictest family parlor In
England AS draughtsman. he was far from
having the talent Of our much regretted Leech,
OF eI en- OF several OF his successors but his lie
in spark and wit to those of his predecessors and
contemporaries. With English carlcaturtsts it is
the capital drawing that makes the mediocre
legend pass as rule; while CHAINS oft-repeat-
ed types were merely glanced at to heighten
the enjoyment of the brilliantly witty legend
Cham is good humored VaudeviAiste speak
OF him as If he still lived, for so long as as there
Is In the world any appreciation OF gentlemanly
decent, and inoffensiye fun, he will continue to
live in his numerous sketches, skeptlcal, 6lase
with 10 pretension to lecture or reform the
as an ample reward for his efforts to please
them. AS rule, he never attacks society, and
when he does 1t Is not as a philosopher who
wants to give 1t a lesson, but merely to show
costumes and attitudes AS | have already
said, he differs from his predecessors, contem-
poraries, and successors, tnasmuch as he
always Invented his own legend, and 1nasmuch
as that legend can never hurt the feelings of
any one, Lo matter what his religion, politics,
profession, or nationality may be. He has an
covered before him. To Daumer we owe
Robert Mocarie, to Monnier Joseph Pr,sdhomn,e,
to Gayari A she Lorette, and to Cham the Paris
royou. Neither before him nor during his life
time has any one produced the hooking face,
the railing life, the unkempt head, and the gar
ments Of the low Partisan vagabond with equal
Or approximative effect. The words he puts
into The mouth OF the Uoyou, the attitudes and
gestures he gives him in his sketches, are
always fun, are always Partisan. He is, per-
haps, the only cartcaturist Of whom 1t CAN be
said, that in a country like France he has
touched OF all subjects, has always been witty
and amusing, and yet has never shocked or
offended man, woman, or child. This rapid
sketch Of the gentleman caricaturist would not
be complete were not to add that his sayings
in society were as witty as those written In the
ChariUari and score Of other papers, and en-
HANGED by serious manner and u English &C.
cent Paris Cor. London Standard.