as ever, with deference
by his younger collaborators, and from them he never had cause for
suspicion that his powers were failing--

"Full well they laughed, with counterfeited glee,
At all his jokes, for many a joke had he."

Another of _Punch's_ favourite sons was Charles H. Bennett. His life was
a hard yet happy one, and his career was short, though not too short for
fame; and the last two years during which he sat at the Table were
perhaps the merriest of them all. But his attendances, really owing to
the illness which ultimately bore him down, were irregular. This
irregularity, combined with his habit--then commoner even than now among
artists--of wearing his hair very long, brought him one day a letter
from his friends and fellow-diners in the following terms:--

"Punch" Council, October 24th, 1866.

Present:--LEMON W. H. BRADBURY
EVANS G. DU MAURIER
HORACE MAYHEW EVANS FILS
TOM TAYLOR S. BROOKS
LEIGH TENNIEL

"Resolved"--

That this meeting deeply sympathises with C. H. Bennett
on the state of his hair.

That this meeting appreciates the feeling which detains
the said Bennett from the Council until his hair shall
have been cut.

That this meeting deplores the impecuniosity which prevents
the said Bennett from attending a Barber.

That this meeting, anxious to receive the said Bennett
to its bosom, once more organises a subscription to
enable him to attend the said Barber.

That this company, having (limited) confidence in Mr.
Mark Lemon, entrusts him with the following subscriptions
in aid of the above object, and requests him
to communicate with the aforesaid Bennett to the end
that he may have his dam hair cut and rejoin the
assembly of the brethren.

L s. d.
(Signed) MARK LEMON 0 0 1
FREDERICK EVANS 0 0 1
PERCIVAL LEIGH 0 0 1
HORACE MAYHEW 0 0 1
TOM TAYLOR 0 0 1
W. H. BRADBURY 0 0 1
GEORGE DU MAURIER 0 0 1
F. M. EVANS 0 0 1
SHIRLEY BROOKS 0 0 1
J. TENNIEL 0 0 1
--------