goodness, and the paragon of every virtue.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] An example of these amusing and confusing contentions is the
popular--I might almost say classic--witticism which is often
resurrected at the expense of _Punch_. Once in a company of choice
spirits Somebody suggested, when "our leading comic" was being
discussed, that it would surely be an original idea and a good
speculation to "start a _comic_ Punch." Douglas Jerrold, says one
writer, aimed the dart at Mark Lemon. Mr. W. S. Gilbert, according to a
world-travelled newspaper paragraph, let off the gibe at his friend Mr.
Burnand. Laman Blanchard, says another journalist, surprised Jerrold
into silence with the taunt. Mark Lemon, declares another, threatened
his proprietors with it in a moment of anger; while Mr. Walford told me
that it was certainly first spoken of by George Grossmith, senr., of
humorous memory. But Hodder and Vizetelly agree in fathering it on
Blanchard's son, Sidney, at the time when Gilbert a Beckett's "Comic
Blackstone" and comic histories were delighting all true connoisseurs of
burlesque. Sidney Blanchard, Hodder reminds us, was possessed of a
quaint wit, which was wont to deliver itself in a manner such as that in
which he referred to a cashier who was never behind his desk when money
was to be paid out: "Compared with him," said he, "the eel is an
adhesive animal."

[2] This little conceit greatly pleased its author. He makes Mrs. Caudle
exclaim, when protesting against her spouse's lapse into
billiards--"There's the manly and athletic game of cribbage!"

[3] So ignorant were their immediate successors of the events I am
relating that in a letter written in confutation of the assertion that
Gilbert a Beckett had been an editor of _Punch_, Shirley Brooks said:
"From the first the editorship was in the hands of my predecessor, Mark
Lemon; the opening address was from his pen, and he was sole editor from
July 17th, 1841 (the day of the birth of the publication) until May
23rd, 1870, the day of his lamented death." In the Jubilee number of
_Punch_ this misconception was confirmed upon the authority of this
statement of Shirley Brooks.

[4] These prospectuses cost a penny for twenty; they are now worth a
guinea each.

CHAPTER II.

_PUNCH'S_ EARLY PROGRESS AND VICISSITUDES.

Reception of _Punch_--Early Struggles--Financial Help Invoked--The
First Almanac--Its Enormous Success--Transfer of _Punch_ to
Bradbury a