Phil May - part 4

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 - 3 also.

This is part 4 of a 22-part series on the works of Phil May:

1895 Phil May's Illustrated Annual:

Front Cover
Printed in 1894
( same design as earlier covers )

Title Page

Souvenir of Hyères.

Clergyman: "Will you take this man to be your husband?"
Bride: "If you please, sir."

All Hot !

Brother Brushes
Dick Courbold.
Richard Corbould (1757-1831) was an English artist, sometimes misspelt "Courbold."

Extravagance.
She: "A penny for your thoughts."

Artist: "Yes, I think that is the best picture I have painted."
Critic ( kindly ): " Don't let that discourage you, my boy."

"I thay, let 'em alone, can't yer?"
"Well, they started on me first."

"Won't you be Mrs. 'Orkins. Liza ?"
"Nay, 'Arry: You're only a apology for a man."
"Well, won't yer accept a hapology?"

Brother Brushes.
William Cadby.

A Fact ( more's the pity ).
Artist: "Oh, by the way, have you had lunch?"
Little Waif: ( posing for the first time ): "What's that?"

"Oo was the cove you was talking to last Sunday morning at the Fox and Grapes?"
"I dunno; what was he like?"
"'E 'ad a collar on."

Old Gent: "Do you know, boy, that is a very bad habit?"
Twelve-year-old: "Yes, I know it; I've tried for years to break myself of it, but it's no use."

Ghetto Ways.

"Augustus, give me change for a three-penny piece; I want to give this porter a gratuity."

Masquerade Stupidities.
Romeo and Little Buttercup.

"Was there a doctor with your father when he died?"
"Nay, he just died his self."

Brother Brushes.
Jack Longstaff.

"Vat 'as been ye mattare? Zey tell me you 'af not 'ad goot 'ealth?"
"I dunno, but I think it must have been brain fever."

Jones: "Fine fellow that Brown, isn't he?"
Little Snooks: "Yes, but it's brains that tell."

She: "What lovely turquoises those were you sent me! But are they not emblems of unfaithfulness, darling?"
He""Oh, no, They're all right; they're not real."

Old Gent: "Say, boy, do you know what snow is?"
Boy ( shivering ): "Ye-ye-yes, it's co-oo-oo-ld."

"What's up with Bill? 'es all over stickin' plaster."
"Oh, 'e forgot 'ed took 'is skates off, and tried to walk 'ome backwards."

Stranger: "How is it that there are so many widows about here?"
Local Wit: "I suppose it's 'cos their 'usbands is dead."

"She's just about the neatest, purtiest, an' sweetest Donah in the wide, wide world." ( Chevalier. )

Waiter: "Are you pudding, sir?"
Customer: "What the Dickens do you mean, sir?"

Widow ( ordering tombstone ): " And I don't want any maudlin sentiment on it; just put,
'Died, age 75. "The good die young. "'"

Flotsam and Jetsam.

"You've been very early of late; You was always behind before. If you kape on loike this, ye'll be first at last."

Clergyman: My boy, do you know it's wicked to fish on the Sabbath?"
Youngster: "I isn't fishin' ; I'm teachin' this wurm ter swim."

St James Theatre - A Woman of no Importance, every evening at 5.15

Vaudeville. The Ladies Idol tonight at 8.15

"You never know your luck."
"Hi ! Come back, yer silly, do yer want to spile yer luck?"

"No snow falls lighter than the snow of age. Yet none falls heavier, for it never melts."

John: "I never believe in anything I can't understand."
The Rev. Molloy: "In that case, my friend, I'm afraid your creed will be extremely limited."

Musical Notes.
Monday "Pops."

Theatrical Lodging-house Keeper: "Yes, I'm glad they've knighted 'Enery Irving. You see, it's a compliment to the perfession which reflecs equal honner on us hall."