New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-26
A COMIC INSTITUTION
SIR Francis Burnand and His e..
cessor IN Punch"

London, FebrIarv .,
Mr. Punch" IS more than a popular ,.,.-.
He is little less than a national ins,,,,.,u'
whose declining prestige would be regardaa III
disaster much more serious than the ovsr,,-.
of ministry or the collapse OF a nar..-
change OF editorshfp would be discussed -. a
solemnity II It were an indication tia, - a
comic journal had been misdfrected tbror-s
partisan bias or malicious propensities -
retirement Of Sir Francis Burnand from -
chief seat at the mahogany table. which h.s-
occupied for quarter of century. Is a vo,s~
tary exit due to his own confession that
at seventy ought 70 be too old for reglla- -
even II he doesn't feel so. 1t comes al tbs 81
Of political campaign during which .,r-
Punch" has clearly discerned the forces OF nubY.
opinion and represented with tact and a.
erection the convictions OF large mator,.v :.
the electorate Since Mr. Chamberlatn,a
lanation OF fiscal reform three years sgo -
famous Journal has been firm and cons,s.a,. :,
It's support OF Free Trade: and this attitusa -
been a proof OF the editors sound iudzn,sr. -
unerring instinct. Yet the situation has nsr..
been misrepresented IN any cartoon. ana -.
caricaturist's art has not been unfairly u,.s
Sir Francis Burnand has followed Sir Iob-
Tenniel into honorable retirement after a pro.
tracted period OF forty-three years servtc. a.
editor and staff contributor; and the Journal
was never more prosperous. artistic and beta,
natured- Artists and writer's with an indfyfsu
aIity Of their own have come and gone; nu
Maurier has had no successor ss social
satfrtst any more than anybody except Thack.
cray could write Book Of Snobs" PHI
Mays street garnins and Afilliken's AIRY and
.Arriet" have been unique like TenniePs Dor
traits of Dizzy; but the standard OF good natural
pleasantly and burlesque has been kept AZ +.
higher level than in the days OF Leech Mark
Lemon and Tom Taylor.
The commonest complaint against Mr. Punch
is that he is not so funny as he might be. You
have some funny things sent 10 you sometinesT
Sir Francis Burnand reports Mr.. W. s. GIIbsr
as asking plaintiveIy. Yes. occasionally" n.
piled the unsuspecting editor, nodding in hs
chair Then why don't you put them in?" vas
the Cilbertian poser. The Jokes do not get IN; or
possibly II would be more accurate 10 say that
only English jokes are admitted and good
natured critics ike Mr. Barrie would add thar
these are not at all like Scottish. Irish and
American jokes II is almost necessary FOR
humorous contributors 70 learn Mr.. Punchs'
special method Of joking as II Is for new mem
bers 10 acquire the Parliamentary style Of
speaking; but when they have mastered II their
English Jokes are safe week after week in con-
politics and society. II there are no outlaws
from Scotsmen. Irishrnen and foreigners. It mat
tiers not. for, as Goldsmith said, "the loud laugh
denotes the vacant mind" and the correct style
of Joking is after ALL the main thing The letter
press in Punch" may be dull: but the artists
are fine draughtsmen and they ara not pressed
for time, like Mr.. Gould. who Is on exhibition
daily as a pictorial hunorist. Sir Francis Bur-
nand has multiplied cartoons. steadily reinforced
the staff OF artists and allowed illustrators to
revel IN their own individuality; and while
there may be less facility IN hitting OF tbs
political situation than there was IN the days
OF TennieI or Leech. there has been distinct
advance IN the art Of humorous Illustration
Mr.. Linley Sambourne's large cartoons not
perhaps as effective as his minor social studies
once were but the drawing Is always excellent.
Mr.. Bernard Partridge has genuine sense Of
humor and produces the most grotesqus car
toons. and Mr.. z. T. Reed is an eccentric
comedian with a touch sure Mr.. Cyril
Maude's in stage work. and the minor artists
are accomplished men Possibly the hunting
pictures have fallen OF: certainly Du Msurer
has had no successor IN his own field: but Mr.
Punch's" artistic hand has not lost It's cunning
and deftness.
The new Editor Of Punch" Mr. owen Sea-
man. has not made great a reputation a
the author Of the Happy Thought" papers. bur
he is we'll known as writer OF humorous verse
and ingenious parodies. and. apart from his
experience as assistant editor. he is man Of
the world with habit OF being the central
figure In every group. At Shrewsbury be was
captain OF the school. at Glare College he was
crack oarsman. and after being a schoolmaster.
a lecturer on English literature. a barrtster and
contributor to society Journalism, he settled
down. I shall not say 70 serious work, but 70
professional pleasantly IN the Office OF Punch
He knows more than a little about a great many
things. He has been writing under Sir Francis
Burnand's direction for twelve years. and Wills
too old. perhaps. TO be called "a new boy at
the mahogany. he has not cooled his heels unter
IL long enough 10 have lost his freshness and
vivacity. Mr.. Seaman has always been ksen
sportsman and is a fine waterman. a good tennis
player. an excellent rider and hunter. and man
OF fashion. as well literary taste. Appar-
entity he has been an understudy marked out BY
training and natural gifts for the succession 70
the master Of happy thoughts and gay con-
ceits. LNF
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