Supplement to Punch, or the London Charivari, September 16, 1914 The New Rake's Progress: Cartoons from "Punch" Illustrating the Kaiser's Career, 1888-1914

Excerpt

A WISE WARNING.

Dædalus Bismarck (Political Parent of Wilhelm Icarus).

"My son, observe the middle path to fly,

And fear to sink too low, or rise too high.

Here the sun melts, there vapours damp your force,

Between the two extremes direct your course.

"Nor on the bear, nor on boötes gaze,

Nor on sword-arm'd orion's dangerous rays:

But follow me, thy guide, with watchful sight,

And, as I steer, direct thy cautious Flight.

October 6, 1888.

L'ENFANT TERRIBLE.

Chorus in the Stern. "Don't go on like that—or you'll upset us all!"

May 10, 1890.

THE IMPERIAL JACK-IN-THE-BOX.

Chorus (Everybody). "Everything in Order Everywhere! O! what a Surprise! Sold Again!"

January 30, 1892.

THE MODERN ALEXANDER'S FEAST; OR, THE POWER OF SOUND.

"With ravished ears,

The Monarch hears,

Assumes the God,

Affects to nod,

and seems to shake the spheres!"

March 5, 1892.

THE STORY OF FIDGETY WILHELM.

"Let me see if Wilhelm can

Be a little gentleman;

Let me see if he is able

To sit still for once at table!"

"But fidgety Will

He won't sit still."

Just like any bucking horse.

"Wilhelm! We are getting cross!"

February 1, 1896.

A NEW RÔLE.

Imperial "Manager-Actor" (who has cast himself for a leading part in "Un Voyage en Chine," sotto voce). "Um—Ha! With just a few additional touches here and there, I shall make a first-rate Emperor of China!"

January 15, 1898.

COOK'S CRUSADER.

Imperial Knight Templar (the German Emperor—to Saladin). "What!! The Christian Powers putting pressure upon You, my dear Friend!! Horrible! I can't think how People can do such things!"

October 15, 1898.

ON TOUR.

"'Unter den Linden'—always at Home,

'Under the Lime-light' Wherever I Roam!"

April 5, 1905.

NOT IN THE PICTURE.

Scene—On shore, during the visit of the British Fleet to Brest.

Mr. Punch (Photographer, suavely, to the Kaiser). "Just a leetle further back, please, Sir. Your shadow still rather interferes with the group."

July 12, 1905.

THE SOWER OF TARES.

August 23, 1905.

"ISOLATION."

Peace (attending the Inter-Parliamentary Congress at Berlin). "Everybody else seems to be my friend; why do you stand aloof?"

German Kaiser. "But haven't I always said that I was your friend?"

Peace....