y
of which Albert Smith complained was thoroughly in accordance with the
spirit of the practical joking that went on at the time, while the
reason of the pledging was said to be the forcing of the unwilling,
hyper-economical Smith to "stand punch round," as all the others did
from time to time, he taking his full share of the liquor, though he
declined to entertain in his turn.

Albert Smith, indeed, during the time he was connected with _Punch_ was
usually the butt of the jokers, particularly of Douglas Jerrold, but
rarely did he so completely turn the tables on his tormentors as on this
occasion. Yet he was not averse to chaff, particularly when he applied
it to others. One day, at the Club, Mark Lemon had been remarking that
he had no peculiarities, at least not more than other men, and certainly
none that he knew of. "For example," said he, "many men have some
peculiarity in shaving--some shave with the right hand, others with the
left, or some with either indifferently." "What do _you_ shave with?"
asked Albert Smith. "With my right hand," replied the Editor. "Then
that's your peculiarity, Uncle Mark," said Smith; "most people shave
with a razor."

No doubt the fun was often a little rough, and that the members were a
little ashamed of it; for when Mark Lemon introduced there Mr. Catling,
the editor of "Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper," he picturesquely warned his
guest to be prepared for "an awful set of blackguards." On the night in
question, however, the fun was flatter, and Kenny Meadows, the Father of
the Feast, distinctly peppery.

On the occasion of Mr. R. J. Hamerton's visit Jerrold was in high
feather, and, waxing eloquent on the growing influence of _Punch_, cried
for silence while he proclaimed its ingredients. Gilbert a Beckett, he
declared, was the spirit, and John Leech the sugar; Albert Smith was the
water; himself, he confessed, was the acid; and Mark Lemon--the spoon.
And among other little witticisms of the Punchites which memory has set
on record is a conversation among them on the subject of the payment of
income-tax. With most of them there was in the earliest days little
income and less tax, and strange were the stories told. At last one,
whose name has not been preserved, quietly asserted that he honestly
filled in the declaration each year, and honourably paid the demand
which was regularly served upon him. The company's surprise had
increased to contemptuous incredulity, when their Quixotic fri