The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-10-24
BURNAND OF PUNCH.
Chat With a Man Who Furnishes Alleged
Humor Once q Week.

Chat With a Man Who Furnishes AHeGeo
Humor Once q Week.
When l wrote F. c. Burnand asking
him to grant an interview, did it with
trepidation, having heard that he OBJ
jected to the modern inquisition OF the
interviewer. My eloquence evidently
prevailed, however, for he replied that
might have the satisfaction Of execut-
ing my editorial commission. 1t could
only be ''sketchy" affair, as at the
present time he was so very busy that
his leisure moments were few and pre-
cious. AS probably knew as much
about him as was necessary, I should
let him off easily.
had to be contented with merely
catching glimpse of him in his COM
Portable study at the "Boltons. He
was preparing to start off for the Savoy,
where he was occupied in rehearslng
his new piece.
"Of the many comic papers Punch is
decidedly the only one that appears to
excite vague, mysterious interest IN
the bosom of the reading public. What
is the cause, Mr.. Burnand?''
Probably the hebdomadal dinner, at
which it is supposed, no doubt, that the
jokes are handed round to be digested -
"When was Punch started?'
'Punch was started in 1871, year
of three eventful P's-the introduction
of penny postage and the birth OF the
prince. It was to be a comic chronicle
of the times.
"And it's first editors?"
"Were Mark Lemon, Shirley Brooks
and Tom Taylor"
In their identical chair now sits Mr.
Burnand, who no doubt, through his
other works, is better known to the gen.
eral public than his predecessors Fran
els Cowley Burnand was born Oh Nov.
80, 1886. His very earliest years show
ed promise of literary talent. At Elton
his little plays were acted in his tutor 8
room, and at the age of IA his Guy
Fawkes' Day" was produced at Worth
ing. He carried his energies on to Cam
bridge, where he founded the A. d. G.,
which still flourishes.
Mr.. Burnand quite made up his mind
that the church should be his profession.
And from reading at Cuddesdon he
passed to St. Charles seminary to study
under the late Cardinal (then Dr. Man
ming, which resulted in his discovering
that the cure of souls was not his voca-
ton. His earliest contribution to Punch
dates back to 1855, when he sent i'll
drawing which was reproduced by the
great John Leech. Though the stage has
always possessed a great attraction for
him, journalism equally claims him as
one of its successful lights. With what
other papers was he connected? He once
edited small paper, The Glowworm,
when Arthur A. Beckett was his 'sub. -
He contri buted a good deal to Fun. In
fact, it was through Fun not seeing his
idea Of literary joke that brought him
directly in connection with Punch.
''What was the idea?" l asked him.
1.-The burlesquing of popular novel
lists Of the day OF these 'Mokanna' ap-
peared in Punch Feb. 81, 1868. 1t was
attributed to Thackeray. The idea reg
ularly caught on, and soon after that l
joined the staff, on which for long
time, owing to my youth, I was called
The New Boy"
The new and original style of Hap
Ply Thoughts" won him popularity as a
true wit. It's very simplicity of quaint
humor appealed to ALL Happy
Thoughts" and Burnands are synony-
nous, and not undeservedly SO. The
same keen sense of hulnOr runs through
every line of his writing.
"When did you become editor?" was
my next question.
Il succeeded to the editorial chair in
1880 Though post of honor, the life
of an editor of comic journal is not
exactly happy one, for many people
seem to imagine that joke has only to
be made, and it becomes good enough
for Punchp The home of the feeble fun
ny story lies in the waste paper basket
of The Punch office. London Sketch.