The Humours of Cynicus. (Published at his Studio, 59 Drury
Lane.)—No little trouble and money have been spent on this volume. The drawings are good, and often funny, while the colouring is decidedly successful. But we really do not see for whom the volume is meant. " Cynicus," in some verses which have at least the merit of being well-intentioned, tells us that his task is—
"To wake a smile, To smooth one wrinkle on the brow of care, To aid some sorry heart The numerous petty ifs of life to bear."
This, of course, is a facon de porter. People in trouble do not take up comic pictures to find comfort, nor do they find that caricatures help them to bear even the pettiest evils of life. Yet there is a use even in the slightest sketches of a humorous kind, only they must not be taken so seriously as to be produced with all this ceremony of good paper and print, skilful colouring, and hand- some binding. They suit rather some form very much more common and cheap. Some (those, e.g., on pp. 8 and 11) are, we are bound to say, vulgar and offensive. We cannot honestly recommend in any way a volume in which they are found.
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