Phil May - part 11

1899 Phil May Self-Portrait

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 - 10 also.

This is part 11 of a 22-part series on the works of Phil May:

1901-1902 Phil May's Illustrated Annual
published by W. Thacker & Co., London:

Title Page

"By the way, when does your American Tour come off?"
'Oh, not for about a year."
"Well, let's go in here and have a drink before you go."

Overheard in Sydney, N.S.W.

American Million Heiress.-
"And have you really got a coronet ?"
Lord Hardup.-
" Well-ah-yes-at-least-I-mean-I've got the ticket."

"Shave. or hair cut, sir ?"
"Corns, you fool !"

Mr. and Mrs. Binks.

Gimme a light pleeshman !"

Certainly sir
Shanks !!!!

Journalist ( to poet, who has just had his first volume of poems published ).- "Congratulate you, my boy; so you are going to wear the laurels now, eh?"
Poet.- "Yes, and I had the bay-leaves in my house this morning."

"Brother Brushes"
James Gnock R.I.

Tourist.- "I say Pat,..."

Mamma ( to Tommy, who has joined lustily in the Hyms ).- "Now, Tommy, do you know the meaning of 'Sins Alloy'?"
Tommy ( promptly ).- "Yes, mummy dear. When you're not speaking the trufe !"

Untitled

All the jolly fun at Hampstead.
"Why don't yer laugh?"
"I'm a Diver."

Say, Brown, will you play cricket for us to-morrow?
- we're short of a man!"

"Well, the chap that made that didn't know much about the 'female form devine.' did he, old woman ?"

Untitled

"I hear poor old Bibbi's come a beastly cropper."
"Yes, poor old chap, drink and he never got on well together, the one lowered the other."

Benevolent Lady ( distributing tract to inebriate, who has refused to accept one ).-
"Do take one, If you read it,it will do you good."
Drunk ( pulling himself together ).- "Madam, I write 'em."