New-York tribune., 1900-12-29
When we are gone
Let them sing on
Round the Old Tree.

Last night the staff OF Punch gathered.
has been their custom every Wednesday even
ing since the paper floated, around the Mahog-
any Tree and celebrated the jubilee by present
ing their veteran colleague with silver to-
bacco box with brief inscription followed by
the signatures of the staff reproduced in fac
smie.
The date was not precise to day marking
the fiftieth anniversary Of Tenniels joining the
paper. It was Wednesdays could be
got to fit in. Doyle's letter of resignation Is
dated November 27, 1850 The action was sud
den, unexpected, and left the editor in serious
lurch,e since Doyle was depended upon for a
series of blocks for the Almanack, whose publi-
cation was almost due AT that time Tenniel
had made his mark by his illustrations of
14lsop's Fables, just published by John Murray
In the dilemma Mark Lemon, put on the track
by Douglas Jerrold, approached him with invi
tation to complete Doyle's work for the Alma
nack-an invitation promptly accepted. Doyle's
abrupt withdrawal from the paper, occasioned
as every one knows, by resentment of attacks
upon what at the time was known in politics
as Papal aggression was not so Immediately
inconVenient for the weekly paper as for the
unfinished Almanack. Leech was still to the
fore, in the prime of his power, and might be
counted upon for the weekly cartoon. But a
second cartoonist, the producer Of what at the
table is known as the small cut, distinguishing
1t from the large cut was needed. Tennie soon
drifted into the vacant place.
His first cartoon will be found page "A of
Volume Xxx. 1t represents Lord John Russell
as Lord Jack the Giant Killer armed cap-a-
pie advancing to assail Cardinal Wiseman, the
agent of Papal aggression. Tenniel reproduces
at this day his idea of the Dog Toby, then first
committed to paper But his fancies of John
Bull in the flesh and Mr.. Punch vastly i'm
proved, alike in individuality and vigor. This
first essay is subjected to the ordeal of being
confronted on the opposite page by of
Leech's masterpieces In those days it was not
a not uncommon practice to give in the same
number two cartoons by different hands.
In 1864 the gayety Of the nation was eclipsed
by the death of John Leech. AS matter OF
course, Tenniel stepped into the place of the
chief cartoonist, and has since, week by week
dealt with current history. Most hard workers
nj w nfico OF J,0I
iday for a fyed period of the year. It is one Of
the minor marvels Of Tenners fifty years hard
labor that he never formed the habit of taking
a holiday. For the perfection of the cartoon It
is necessary that the artist should be present at
its conception, closely following discussion of
the details by the staff. The occasions when
Tenniel has been absent from the Wednesday
dinner are exceedingly few. More than twenty
years ago he paid adventurous visit to Ven
ice Before that, and since his absences from
the cartoon page of Punch might be counted
the fingers of both hands
Born in 1920 Tenniel has passed the hound
AIRY Of the fourscore years after which accord
ing to the Psalmist life is but labor and sor-
row. The axiom certainly does not applv TO
John Tenniel pThe fact of his ability 10 fulTI
his weekly task unfailngly through a period of
fifty years testifies to a rare gift of bodily
health. To this day his 1.-the, upright figure his
ruddy countenance and his bright look belle
his fourscore years. Conjoined with healthy
body is a wholesome SUNNY disposition
| Through an exceptionally Ioner Iif t,t. 0;., a.
contact with innumerable people of varied kind
1t is safe to assert that he has never made ar,
IIiS LiieiuS muster IN troops, the
! attached being those admitted TO the closest
! intimacy. Among his colleagues on the
Punch staff there is a difference of opinion
as to whether he more resembles Colonel New
| come or Don Quixote. In the wider circle out
! side Bouverie-st. his name is perhaps as faniI-
lar as any written in the English tongue. It
mas heen his mission through fifty years to
shoot tolly as 1t flies, to strike at fraud and
corruption, to touch with delicate though firm
mana mana the political problem of the hour This
task ne has accomplished with unfaiIing fancv
and delightful humor which have never de-
dignity. hs III