GEORGE CRUIKSHANK
and is especially jealous of all display of military authority. ' Raw Recruit,' ' ditto dressed,' ditto ' served up,' as we see them in the Sketch-Book, are so many satires upon the army : Hod^e with his ribbons flaunting in his hat, or with red coat and musket, drilled stiff and pompous, or that last, minus leg and arm, tottering about on crutches, do not fill our English artist with the enthusiasm that follows the soldier in every other part of Europe. Jeanjean, the conscript in France, is laughed at to be sure, but then it is because he is a bad soldier; when he comes to have a huge pair of moustachios and the croix d'honneur to briller on his poitrine cicatrisee, Jeanjean becomes a member of a class that is more respected than any other in the French nation. The veteran soldier inspires our people with no such awe -- we hold that democratic weapon the fist in much more honour than the sabre and bayonet, and laugh at a man tricked out in scarlet and pipe-clay. Look at this regiment of heroes " marching to divine service," to the tune of the ' British Grenadiers.'
There they march in state, and a pretty contempt our artist
shows for all their gimcracks and trumpery. He has drawn a
perfectly English scene -- the little blackguard boys are playing
pranks round about the men, and shouting " heads up, soldier,"
" eyes right, lobster," as little British urchins will do. Did
one ever hear the like sentiments expressed in France ? Shade
of Napoleon, we insult you by asking the question. In Eng-
George Cruikshank
Caricatures
Cruikshank's Book Illustrations
Bow Street - A Rough and Tumble Victorian Neighborhood
When Artists Clash: The Dramatic Fallout Between Dickens and Cruikshank
The British Beehive - Victorian Society According to Cruikshank
Robert Cruikshank - A Talented Failure
The Cruel Caricatures of Isaac Cruikshank
The Bottle - An Early Graphic Novel
