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niel； and Cruikshank also contributed。 One of his prettiest positions is the group here reproduced from 〃Punch's Almanack〃 for 1877。 The talent of his colleague； Mr。 Linley Sambourne； may fairly be styled unique。 It is difficult to pare it with anything in its way； except some of the happier efforts of the late Mr。 Charles Bent； to which； nevertheless； it is greatly superior in execution。 To this clever artist's invention everything seems to present itself with a train of fantastic accessory so whimsically inexhaustible that it almost overpowers one with its prodigality。 Each fresh examination of his designs discloses something overlooked or unexpected。 Let the reader study for a moment the famous 〃Birds of a Feather〃 of 1875； or that ingenious skit of 1877 upon the rival Grosvenor Gallery and Academy； in which the late President of the latter is shown as the proudest of peacocks； the eyes of whose tail are portraits of Royal Academicians； and whose bodyfeathers are paint brushes and shillings of admission。 Mr。 Sambourne is excellent； too； at adaptations of popular pictures；witness the more than happy parodies of Herrman's 〃A Bout d'Arguments；〃 and 〃Une Bonne Histoire。〃 His bookillustrations have been paratively few； those to Burnand's laughable burlesque of 〃Sandford and Merton〃 being among the best。 Rumour asserts that he is at present engaged upon Kingsley's 〃Water Babies；〃 a subject which might almost be supposed to have been created for his pencil。 There are indications； it may be added； that Mr。 Sambourne's talents are by no means limited to the domain in which for the present he chooses to exercise them； and it is not impossible that he may hereafter take high rank as a cartoonist。 Mr。 Charles Keene； a selection from whose sketches has recently been issued under the title of 〃Our People；〃 is unrivalled in certain bourgeois； military； and provincial types。 No one can draw a volunteer； a monthly nurse； a Scotchman； an 〃ancient mariner〃 of the wateringplace species； with such absolutely humorous verisimilitude。 Personages； too； in whose eyesto use Mr。 Swiveller's euphemism〃the sun has shone too strongly；〃 find in Mr。 Keene a merciless satirist of their 〃pleasant vices。〃 Like Leech； he has also a remarkable power of indicating a landscape background with the fewest possible touches。 His book illustrations have been 。mainly confined to magazines and novels。 Those in 〃Once a Week〃 to a 〃Good Fight；〃 the tale subsequently elaborated by Charles Reade into the 〃Cloister and the Hearth；〃 present some good specimens of his earlier work。 One of these； in which the dwarf of the story is seen climbing up a wall with a lantern at his back； will probably be remembered by many。
After the 〃Punch〃 school there are other lesser luminaries。 Mr。 W。 S。 Gilbert's drawings to his own inimitable 〃Bab Ballads〃 have a perverse drollery which is quite in keeping with that erratic text。 Mr。 F。 Barnard； whose exceptional talents have not been sufficiently recognised； is a master of certain phases of strongly marked character； and； like Mr。 Charles Green； has contributed some excellent sketches to the 〃Household Edition〃 of Dickens。 Mr。 Sullivan of 〃Fun；〃 whose grotesque studies of the 〃British Tradesman〃 and 〃Workman〃 have recently been republished； has abounding vis ica； but he has hitherto done little in the way of illustrating books。 For minute pictorial stocktaking and photographic retention of detail； Mr。 Sullivan's artistic memory may almost be pared to the wonderful literary memory of Mr。 Sala。 Mr。 John Proctor； who some years ago （in 〃Will o' the Wisp〃） seemed likely to rival Tenniel as a cartoonist； has not been very active in this way； while Mr。 Matthew Man； the clever artist of the 〃Tomahawk；〃 has transferred his services to the United States。 Of Mr。 Bowcher of 〃Judy；〃 and various other professedly humorous designers； space permits no further mention。
There remains； however； one popular branch of bookillustration； which has attracted the talents of some of the most skilful and original of modern draughtsmen； i。e。 the embellishment of children's books。 From the days when Mulready drew the old 〃Butterfly's Ball〃 and 〃Peacock at Home〃 of our youth； to those of the delightfully Blakelike fancies of E。 V。 B。； whose 〃Child's Play〃 has recently been republished for the delectation of a new generation of admirers； this has always been a popular and profitable employment； but of late years it has been raised to the level of a fine art。 Mr。 H。 S。 Marks； Mr。 J。 D。 Watson； Mr。 Walter Crane； have produced specimens of nursery literature which； for refinement of colouring and beauty of ornament； cannot easily be surpassed。 The equipments of the last named； especially； are of a very high order。 He began as a landscapist on wood； he now chiefly devotes himself to the figure； and he seems to have the decorative art at his fingers' ends as a natural gift。 Such work as 〃King Luckieboy's Party〃 was a revelation in the way of toy books； while the 〃Baby's Opera〃 and 〃Baby's Bouquet〃 are petits chefs d'oeuvre； of which the sagacious collector will do well to secure copies； not for his nursery； but his library。 Nor can his 〃Mrs。 Mundi at Home〃 be neglected by the curious in quaint and graceful invention。 ｛14｝ Another bookthe 〃Under the Window〃 of Miss Kate Greenawayes within the same category。 Since Stothard； no one has given us such a cleareyed； softfaced； happyhearted childhood； or so poetically 〃apprehended〃 the coy reticences； the simplicities； and the small solemnities of little people。 Added to this； the oldworld costume in which she usually elects to clothe her characters； lends an arch piquancy of contrast to their innocent rites and ceremonies。 Her taste in tinting； too； is very sweet and springlike； and there is a fresh； pure fragrance about all her pictures as of newgathered nosegays； or； perhaps； looking to the fashions that she favours； it would be better to say 〃bowpots。〃 But the latest 〃good genius〃 of this branch of bookillustrating is Mr。 Randolph Caldecott； a designer assuredly of the very first order。 There is a spontaneity of fun； an unforced invention about everything he does； that is infinitely entertaining。 Other artists draw to amuse us； Mr。 Caldecott seems to draw to amuse himself；and this is his charm。 One feels that he must have chuckled inwardly as he puffed the cheeks of his 〃Jovial Huntsmen；〃 or sketched that inimitably placent dog in the 〃House that Jack Built；〃 or exhibited the exploits of the immortal 〃train band captain〃 of 〃famous London town。〃 This last is his masterpiece。 Cowper himself must have rejoiced at it；and Lady Austen。 There are two sketches in this bookthey occupy the concluding pageswhich are especially fascinating。 On one； John Gilpin； in a forlorn and flaccid condition； is helped into the house by the sympathising （and very attractive） Betty； on the other he has donned his slippers； refreshed his inner man with a cordial； and over the heaving shoulder of his 〃spouse；〃 who lies dissolved upon his martial bosom； he is taking the spectators into his confidence with a wink worthy of the late Mr。 Buckstone。 Nothing more genuine； more heartily laughable； than this set of designs ha