By way of contrast with hustling methods _Punch_ had noted with regret the passing in 1905 of _Longman's Magazine_, in whose pages Mr. Andrew Lang had for many years presided so gracefully "At the Sign of the Ship":--
Formerly, when, sated by sensation, Gentle readers sought an air serene, Refuge from the snapshot's domination Might be found in _Longman's Magazine_.
There at least the roaring cult of dollars Never took its devastating way; There the pens of gentlemen and scholars Held their uncontaminating sway.
There no parasitic bookman prated, No malarious poetasters sang, There all themes were touched and decorated By your nimble fancy, Andrew Lang.
True, some hobbies you were always riding, --Spooks and spies and totemistic lore; But so deft, so dext'rous was your guiding, No one ever labelled you a bore.
But alas! the landmarks that we cherish, Standing for the earlier, better way, Vanquished by vulgarity must perish, Overthrown by "enterprise" decay.
Still with fairy books will you regale us, Still pay homage to the sacred Nine, But no more hereafter will you hail us Monthly at the Ship's familiar Sign.
There no longer faithfully and gaily Will you deal alike with foes and friends, Wherefore, crying "Ave, atque vale!" _Punch_ his parting salutation sends.
_Punch_ had his own losses to deplore, for in August, 1897, the death of Mr. E. J. Milliken removed a most valuable and fertile member of his staff. Mr. Milliken was not only the creator of "'Arry," and a fluent and dexterous versifier, but he combined with a retentive and accurate memory "the rare talent of most happily applying past literature, whether in history or fiction, to the illustration of contemporary instances," and for a long time had been the chief cartoon-suggester. A longer and more distinguished connexion with _Punch_ was severed in 1906 by the retirement of Sir Frank Burnand after forty-three years' service. He joined in 1863, as the youngest of the staff, and held the editorship for over twenty-five years. In "Just a Few Words at Parting" he defines the aim of the editor in words worthy of remembrance. If _Punch_ was to hold securely the position he had achieved, it should and must be "to provide relaxation for all, fun for all, without a spice of malice or a suspicion of vulgarity, humour without a flavour of bitterness, satire without reckless severity, and nonsense so laughter-compelling as to be absolutely irresistible from its very absurdity." The precept hardly covers the higher function assumed by _Punch_ in "The Song of the Shirt," but, as it stands, had assuredly been faithfully carried into practice by the master of exhilarating burlesque, the intrepid parodist, the author of the immortal _Happy Thoughts_. As for the personal affection that he inspired in his staff, it is truly expressed in the farewell lines addressed to him by "R. C. L.":--