New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-06-29
THE TENNIEL DINNER.
A BRILLIANT TRIBUTE TO A GREAT
ILLUSTRATOR AND SATIRIST-THE
TRUE FUNCTIONS OF CARL
CATURE.
London. June Is.

=
toon maker. This master OF the art of cari
catuTe had never abused the functions Of the
comic spirit. nor degraded them for partisan
purposes He took up the work OF Leech and
Richard Doyle when it was crude and grotesoue
and perfected IL on the artistic side for his de-
signs were more classical than theirs and his
craftsmanship was superior During hftv
years service for Punch" he displayed genius
and remarkable versatility in adapting himself
the conditions Of satire. in presenting certain
faces and types Of character with vivid realism
and in catching the momentary phases Of polit-
zeal and diplomatic situations His art more
ever, was mellowed and sweetened as it was i'm
proved in ineness of line and delicacy Of shad-
ing By virtue Of it England was kept in a bet
ter temper and public opinion was brought under
wholesome restraint. The veteran artists mod
Grafton, good taste and conservatism We're safe
guards against vulgarity in satire and indecency
in caricature. The value of these safeguards is
perceived when one crosses the Channel and
buys the French comic papers.
There were various attempts at the compli-
mentary dinner TO analyze Sir John Tenniels
powers and virtues. Too much stress was laid
upon his knack Of catching the humor and
philosophy Of a political situation. The Punch"
cartoon has been for long time a composite
affair. The subject is selected and discussed in
detail at the Wednesday night dinner. and the
cartoon maker carries out the idea and profits
by the suggestions of his colleagues. delivering
the drawing TO the engraVer on Friday night.
There could not be in Sir Johns cartoons the
marked individuality and the grotesque fancy
which Mr.. F. c. Gould. with a remarkable in
stinct for comical situations. albeit with in
ferior skill in drawing. exhibits in his daily
caricatures in THE Westminster Gazette" Sir
Johns characteristic traits and real source of
rfh I led Y
Mr. Balfour. or the American Ambassador.
the Duke OF Devonshire. This his inherent
truthfulness and English instinct for fair play.
He was never unjust, nor partisan. He never
misrepresented the essential facts of the day.
and hence his cartoons never excited resent
ment, but were enjoyed equally by men OF both
political parties. Caricature became a powerful
weapon in the hands of truth. Mr.. Delane
welded an influence unrivalled in his day in
shaping public thought and directing minis
terial policies but even the strongest leaders in
The Times" when that great journal was at
its best. were weak in comparison with Sir John
TennieTs cartoons in Punch Founded upon
truth, these cartoons could be subjected to the
unerring test of time. Sir Johns series of car
toons during forty years, when reprinted, be-
a complete and accurate satirical his
tory OF English politics and European diplo-
macy during recent times. There may be moral
here for American caricature.
The company which had gathered to drink
with full glasses the health OF this great artist
and true gentleman was. indeed. brilliant one.
representing public life. politics, art and litera-
ture.- Lord Rosebery, who had suggested the
dinner, was kept away by private mourning. and
many of the prominent figures which had ap-
peared in Sir Johns recent cartoons notably
Mr.. Chamberlain, Mr.. John Morley. Sir William
Michael Hicks-Beach and the Marquis of Lans
6owne We're missing from the tables. having
sent letters Of regret. Mr.. Arthur Balfour. how
ever, was in the chair. and the Duke of Devon
shire, Lord James OF Hereford, Lord Crewe Mr..
Herbert Gladstone, Lord Rothschild, the Attor-
ney-General and other public men were at the
top table. Sir Edward Poynter to have
made one Of the chief speeches. but de-
tanned at the last moment, and Sir Henry Irving
sent telegram Of regret during the evening.
Art and literature were well represented at the
tables. Among the academicians and artists
Mr.. John Sargent, Professor Herbert, Mr..
Herkomer, Mr.. Val Princep Mr. Briton Riviere.
Mr.. Luke FIldes, Mr.. Frank Dicksee, Mr.. E. ].
Gregory. Sir James Linton. the Hon John Col
ner, Mr.. Colin Hunter and Mr.. f. c. Gould.
Among other prominent guests were Sir Herbert
Parry Sir Squire Bancroft, Sir F. Bridge, Sir
Wemyss Reid, Mr.. Anthony Hope Hawkins. Mr..
J. n. Barrie Sir George Lewis. Mr.. Augustine
Birrel Archdeacon Wilberforce, Mr.. Sidney
Grundy. Mr. A. W. Pinero, Mr.. Brandon Thomas,
Mr.. John Hare, Mr.. W. s. Gilbert, Sir James
Blythe Mr.. William Archer. Mr.. Henry F. Dick
ems Mr.. Sidney Colvin. Mr.. w. l. Courtney. Sir
William Broadbent and Sir John Drummer Sir
John Tennies colleagues Of Punch" were at
the heads Of seven tables Mr.. Bernard was in
the centre scattering his happy thoughts among
a group of personal friends. Mr.. Linley Sam
bourne, Mr.. Bernard Partridge, MT. E. T. Reid
Mr.. Arthur a Beckett, Mr.. Anstey Guthrie and
Mr.. II. W. Lucy, who had attended so many
round table suppers with the guest Of the even
ing, smiled announcement upon him from dis
tance, and as the event proved. he needed moral
support IN making the first public speech OF his
life.
Mr.. Bslfour is not ordinarily a fluent speaker,
but on this occasion he warmed up to his work
and proposed the health Of Sir John Tenniel in
most graceful and sympathetic speech In a
comic spirit he described himself the repre-
sentative Of a class which was the natural prey
10 the art OF caricature and compared himself
with the proverbial lamb proposing the toast
OF the wolf retiring after a long Of piracy
He quickly added that the lambs in English
politics had no cause for complaining of the
treatment which they had received from this
particular wolf He referred to the wonderful
industry Of Sir John in designing more than
two thousand cartoons for Punch: TO the
absence of venom acerbity and vulgarity In
an occupation involving satire IN its broadest
sense; TO the range Of experience during half a
century when ministries had been rising ana
falling, revolutions and following one an
other, and great subjects OF social interest ao-
sOrbng the attention of the world, ana 10 the