[Illustration]
In the order of our Library "Mr. Punch with the Children" comes last,
yet, so continual and sincere has been the interest of the breezy little
man in the children, we might well have placed this volume first. The
_Punch_ pictures, stories and jests that are concerned with the young
folk are almost inexhaustible. The present collection, though containing
the cream of them, comes very far indeed from reproducing them all, or
even fifty per cent. For every notable artist and writer who has been
much associated with _Punch_ since 1841 has had something to say or to
illustrate of the humours of child life. If genius be the power to be a
child again at will, we can understand this abiding interest in the
doings of the children. MR. PUNCH himself resembles Peter Pan, for he
has never grown up. The years roll by, but the jolly little hunchback
remains as young as ever.
The variety of individuality in the children, to whom we are here
introduced, is noteworthy. In the days of Leech, downright impudence
seems to have been a characteristic of the young; to-day it would seem
children are better mannered, even if the _enfant terrible_ is still
thriving and likely to do so. There are nice children here, and naughty
ones; clever and dull children; pretty and ugly children--the
mischievous are chiefly memories of last generation! Phil May's children
are all clearly of the "gutter snipe" order, in which he delighted, full
of character and a somewhat pathetic humour; but how clean and sweet and
lovable are Du Maurier's or Mr. Lewis Baumer's! Mr. Raven-Hill seems to
be attracted somewhat in the same direction as Phil May; but all are
interesting, and their sayings and doings are eminently worthy to be
thus permanently gathered into one volume.
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[Illustration: Boy (_looking forward to a party in the evening_). "Oh,
mummy, baby _is_ naughty! He has taken two things off the calendar, and
made it to-morrow!"]
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