Punch Cartoons of the Great War

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."

OVID, "Metamorphoses," Book VIII., Fable III.

October 6, 1888.

(Twenty-five years after "Dropping the Pilot.")

Ghost of the Old Pilot. "I Wonder if He Would Drop Me NOW!"

(April 1st is the hundredth anniversary of BISMARCK'S birth.)

March 31, 1915.]

Chorus in the Stern. "Don't Go On Like That--or You'll Upset Us All!!"

May 10, 1890.]

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

January 20, 1893.]

"With ravished ears, The Monarch hears, Assumes the God, Affects to nod, And seems to shake the spheres!"

March 5, 1892.

(Up-to-date version of "Struwwelpeter.")]

"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.

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.]

(Tangier, March 31.)

KAISER WILHELM (as the Moor of Potsdam) sings:--

"'Unter den Linden'--always at Home, 'Under the Lime-light' wherever I roam!"

April 5, 1905.]

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.]

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.]