George Cruikshank (in 'Punch and Judy' by J.P.Collier) 1828
see also Henry Mayhew in Letters to the Morning Chronicle - click here
see also Punch on Tower Hill - click here
see also London : a Pilgrimage - click here
see also James Greenwood in Toilers in London - click here
see also James Greenwood in Mysteries of Modern London - click here
PUNCH
may very well be considered one of our London characters. So well known is
Punch, that the sight of the two men, one carrying the show and the other the
drum and pipes, passing through the streets, is quite enough to draw after them
a group of curious little folk, all on the tip-toe of excitement, wondering
when and where the men will stop and pitch the show. Just a very little way down
a by-turning in one of the principal streets, is a favourite spot for setting
down the show.
At such a spot there may often be seen a little crowd of
children gathering almost before the show has been pitched, or the man has had
time to get within the curtain. For, although he does not intend you shall know
it, the showman is inside, hidden away from sight by the long green baize
curtain that falls around. The little ones, watching the lively movements of the
figures, and hearing the curious talk, and of course seeing no other man than
the one outside who is busy with his drum and pipes, innocently imagine that the
figures are speaking. There are some preparations to be made by the showman; so,
while they are going on, the man with the drum suspended from his shoulders, and
the row of pipes stuck just within the folds of his scarf, tries to swell the
crowd by blowing a tune on the pipes, keeping up a rub-a-dub-dub accompaniment
on the drum. There is not much music in the noise this musician is creating, but
the well-known strains from the pipes soon draw the people around, anxiously
awaiting the appearance of Punch, and curious to see his merry performances.
People of all sorts gather round. Little ones in the care of
bigger brothers and sisters are lifted up in their arms, or on their shoulders,
so that they may see PUNCH. Shoeless, hatless, and perhaps homeless boys and
girls, who spend most of their time roaming the streets, squeeze in to have one
piece of merriment, and laugh at the comical figures. The errand boy at sight of
Punch’s funny face forgets his business, and, putting his basket down, settles
himself comfortably to have a spell of enjoyment. Nor does any one seem too old
to watch the show. The old lady with her market-basket on her arm is as well
pleased as any juvenile, and even the busy man of business must stop a moment on
the outskirts of the crowd and enjoy the mirth of this merry exhibition.
Punch
scents to have made his first appearance in England more than two hundred years
ago; for we find that in 1666—7 an Italian puppet-player set up his booth at
Charing Cross, and paid a small rental to the overseers of the parish of St.
Martin’s-in-the-Fields. If we look in their books under that date, we shall
see four entries of various sums ‘received of Punchinello, ye Italian popet
player, for his booth at Charing Cross.’ So that Master Punch is rather an old
inhabitant in our midst, and we may look upon him as a rare relic of the rough
fun of our forefathers.
Uncle Jonathan, Walks in and Around London, 1895 (3 ed.)