PUNCH. An important English weekly paper, devoted to humorous and satirical commentary on current events. lt is doubtful if the whole story of its origin will ever he known, lint the consensus of opinion seems to be in favor of crediting the original idea to Ebenezer Landells. a London wood engraver and draughtsman. and 'Henry Mayhew, a well-known wit and writer. The original idea to reproduce in London the success of Philipon's Charirari„ which al ready hail an established position in Paris. May hew secured Mark Lemon as editor and a staff of writers, and the first issue was published on July 17, 1841. According to Lemon's manifesto, published in the first number, it was destined to fight for the abolition of the Fleet and Marshal sea prisons and of capital punishment, and to uphold the standard of national integrity and virtue. It succeeded with the first part of its programme, and Vhile it has ceased its crusade against capital punishment, it has consistently attacked abuses of all kinds, as well as every form of sham gentility, vulgar ostentation, crazes and fads, foolish extremes of costume, and silly affectations of fashion whether in language or in habits. Throughout the world it is regarded as an exponent. of English opinion scarcely inferior to the London Times itself. While it draws its materials as freely from the happenings of for eign polities as from the occurrences of English national life, it has nevertheless always judged external events from the English point of view, and home affairs from the highest moral standard.
At the time of its inception it was practically the only periodieal which could be said truthfully to represent the attitude of the great mass of the British absolutely free from party or governmental bias. Its humor, like its policy, has been typically English—so much so that it has been frequently misunderstood by foreign critical opinion. with the result that its insularity has lost for it the best Nvork of non-English con tributors. An exception to this rule was the en , t••,u,e ment of 'Artemus Ward.' The renowned French caricaturist Caran d'Ache has also drawn for it. A list of the Englishmen who have met lveckly about the table on which most of them have carved their initials would include many of the hest-known writers and artists. Among the for MCI' may be mentioned Douglas Jerrold, Thomas Hood, and Thackeray, who wrote for it until 1554: among the latter. Keene, Sambom•ne, Leech, Tenniel. Briton Riviere, du Manlier, Harry }Millis,. and Phil May. Lenten was editor from the beginning until 1870: the later editors have been Shirley Brooks, 1870-74: Tom Taylor, 1874-50; and Sir F. C. Bnrnand, 1880—. Consult : Spielinann, The History of Punch (London, 189.5) ; Mayhew, A Joann of Punch (ib., 1895).