iterature; and Cuthbert
Bede talked of the literary and artistic friends of his Verdant Green
career. Mr. Harry Furniss, with his delightful entertainments on
"Portraiture" and "The Humours of Parliament," achieved a success
undreamed of by the earlier _Punch_ reciters; and Mr. du Maurier in his
"Social Pictorial Satire" touched a literary and critical height that
charmed every audience by its humour, its delicacy, and its admirable
taste.

The theatrical stars of half a century march through _Punch's_ pages in
long procession, and matters of high theatrical politics engage the
attention from year to year. _Punch's_ interest in theatricals is hardly
surprising when it is remembered how closely identified with the drama
have been many members of the Staff. Douglas Jerrold was a successful
playwright before ever _Punch_ was heard of, and as the author of
"Black-Eyed Susan" and "Time Works Wonders" he made his name popular
with many who had hardly heard of his connection with "the great comic."
It has been computed that the _Punch_ writers, from first to last, have
contributed no fewer than five hundred plays to the stage; and it may be
mentioned as a curious fact that to "German Reed's" each successive
Editor of _Punch_ has contributed an "Entertainment." The Staff has on
several occasions been seen upon the boards; and on countless occasions
_Punch_ has figured there, usually against his will. It but sufficed for
_Punch_ to make a hit for hungry provincial actors, either of stock
companies or on tour, to pounce upon it and work it up into a play or an
entertainment. Jerrold's brother-in-law, W. J. Hammond, who was at one
time manager of the Strand Theatre, travelled with what must be
considered the authorised show, thus described:

* * * * *

"A new Entertainment, called a

NIGHT

with

PUNCH!

Founded on the Series of Celebrated Papers of that highly humorous
Periodical, from the pens of the acknowledged best Comic Writers of the
day. Adapted and Arranged by R. B. Peake, Esq. As performed by Mr. W. J.
Hammond Forty-two successive nights at the New Strand Theatre.... After
which, a Monopolylogue entitled the

LAST MAN;

or,

PUNCH OUT OF TOWN"

--with five characters, all performed by Hammond, the whole reaching its
climax when _Punch_, in _propria persona_, appeared and sang an
"Epilogue Song."

But it was Mrs. Caudle, of course, that offered a bait too te