Phil May - part 3

1898 Phil May by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative
© National Portrait Gallery, London

Philip William May was a caricaturist. He was born near Leeds and was the son of an engineer who died when May was nine years old. May worked in a variety of jobs before moving to London, and shortly afterward to Australia, when he was seventeen. In Australia he found work with the Sydney Bulletin, and in just three years produced over 800 drawings for the Bulletin. On his return to London in 1892 May drew for the St Stephen's Review; his studies of the London guttersnipes and coster-girls rapidly made him famous. He became a regular member of the staff of Punch in 1896, and in his later years his services were retained exclusively for Punch and The Graphic.

For full biographical notes on Phil May see part 1, and for earlier works, see parts 1 & 2 also.

This is part 3 of a 22-part series on the works of Phil May:

1893 Phil May's Illustrated Annual:

A Happy New Year 1894-1895

Recruiting Sergeant ...

A Chance for the New Woman

She: "Yes I always keep my birthday presents."
He: "What a collection you must have!"

Fraternity.
"(Hic) Can't help you, ole f'la, but I'll sit down with you (hic)."

Sold.

Should Irascible Old Gentlemen be Taught to Knit ?

The New Woman

"Ow, I si, mister, my mother wears one of them things on 'er heye."

"Champagne, Mum ?"

The Colonel: …

She ( romantic ): "Will thee meet me in th' gloaming, John?"
He: "Wheere's Thot?"

She: "If we were to meet a bull, dear, what would you do?"
He: "What a question to ask ! Don't you know I was champion long-distance runner at school ?"

Overheard at the Lord Mayor's Ball.
"Oh, George, I hope you are not going to take me to supper; I've had three already."

Honeymooning.
He: "If I'd known that tunnel was so long, I'd have kissed you."
She: "Didn't you ?"

"If everybody got 'is deserts, where would you be ?"
"Walkin' alone, o' course."

Giddy.
"Hang it all; let's be gay. Come and find the phonograph."

In Possession.

A Dilemma.
"Have you seen Kate to-day ? She's in a dreadful state of mind ; Jack Longpurse has returned fron India, and she has forgotten which engagement ring is his."

Magistrate: You are charged with stealing a watch. Do you want a lawyer?" ...

A Bohemian.

"'Ave yer ever 'ad a bath, Bill ?"
"No; but I once 'ad my neck washed."

A German Professor.

Extinct Types - The Showman.

Second Sight.

"Yes, I've ridden all my life, on and off."
"Well, I've ridden once, and it was mostly off."

Thoughtless of Her.

A Gentleman of the Old School.

Old Gent ...

"Where's that son of yours...

"When Jones came into the profession he hadn't a shirt to his back, and now he has millions."
"What - shirts ?"

An Old Sport.

A Wet Day at the Seaside.
"Nice shower after the wet, yer 'oner."

"You shouldn't drink sea water, Tommy: it will make you thirsty."
"Never mind, Daddy; there's plenty more."

Untitled ( Butler )

"The mind and visage oft are things apart,
A smiling face oft masks a breaking heart."

Wagstaff ( to little Smallpage ):
"I suppose you were brought up on condensed milk."

Salvation Sal ( to village toper ) : ....

A Turkish Noble.
( Sketched from Life. )

" I 'ear you 'ad a fight with Bob Smith." ...

A Merry Xmas.

* * * * *

At 'Appy 'Ampstean on Easter Monday

‘Deuced Funny!’
Portraits of Melton Prior, war correspondent,
and A.C. Corbould, Punch magazine artist

"The Twelve Labours of 'Arry."
Third Labour. — 'Arry catches a crab.
Punch magazine

"Wouldn't yer like ter 'ave one o' them things, Liza Ann?"
"No. I wouldn't be seen on one. I don't think they're nice for lidies!"
Punch magazine

'Bus Conductor. "Emmersmith! Emmersmith! Ere ye are! Emmersmith!"
'Liza Ann. "Oo er yer callin' Emmer Smith? Sorcy 'ound!
Punch magazine

A Game at Ball
pen and ink
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne

A story without Words
Punch magazine

French lady. "Picca-di-lee Caiecus."
Obliging conductor. "All right. One pence."
French lady ( who rather prides herself on her English pronuncial on ). "I anterstond ze Englershe langue."
Obliging conductor. "Oh, all right. Keep yer 'air on!"
Punch magazine

Little Mothers
pen and ink
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne

London Female Character
pen and black ink over traces of graphite on ivory wove paper 13.1 x 99 cm
Art Institute of Chicago, IL

Passenger ( rising politely ). "Excuse me, mum, but do you believe in woman's rights?"
New Woman. "Most certainly I do."
Passenger (resuming seat). "Oh well, then stand up for 'em!"
Punch magazine