SinceGeorge’stimehumorhasbeenconverted。Comusandhiswickedsatyrsandleeringfaunshavedisappeared，andfledintothelowesthaunts;andComus’slady（ifshehadatasteforhumor，whichmaybedoubted）mighttakeupourfunnypicture—bookswithouttheslightestprecautionarysqueamishness。WhatcanbepurerthanthecharmingfanciesofRichardDoyle？InallMr。Punch’shugegalleriescan’twewalkassafelyasthroughMissPinkerton’sschoolrooms？AndaswelookatMr。Punch’spictures，attheIllustratedNewspictures，atallthepicturesinthebook—shopwindowsatthisChristmasseason，asoldsters，wefeelacertainpangofenvyagainsttheyoungsters——theyaretoowelloff。Whyhadn’tWEpicture—books？
Whywerewefloggedso？AplagueonthelictorsandtheirrodsinthetimeofPlancus！
Andnow，afterthisramblingpreface，wearearrivedatthesubjectinhand——Mr。JohnLeechandhis\"PicturesofLifeandCharacter，\"inthecollectionofMr。Punch。Thisbookisbetterthanplum—cakeatChristmas。Itisanenduringplum—cake，whichyoumayeatandwhichyoumaysliceanddelivertoyourfriends;andtowhich，havingcutit，youmaycomeagainandwelcome，fromyear’sendtoyear’send。
InthefrontispieceyouseeMr。Punchexaminingthepicturesinhisgallery——aportly，well—dressed，middle—aged，respectablegentleman，inawhiteneck—cloth，andapoliteeveningcostume——smilinginaveryblandandagreeablemannerupononeofhispleasantdrawings，takenoutofoneofhishandsomeportfolios。Mr。Punchhasverygoodreasontosmileattheworkandbesatisfiedwiththeartist。
Mr。Leech，hischiefcontributor，andsomekindredhumorists，withpencilandpenhaveservedMr。Punchadmirably。Timewas，ifwerememberMr。P。’shistoryrightly，thathedidnotwearsilkstockingsnorwell—madeclothes（thelittledorsalirregularityinhisfigureisalmostanornamentnow，soexcellentatailorhashe）。