Friday, January 27, 2012

Unusual Artifacts: Punch and Jack Ketch, the Hangman, 19th C.

The Victoria & Albert Museum



Here’s another hand-colored “magic lantern” glass slide from the set of twelve by Theobald & Co.  This one depicts Mr. Punch in jail, being confronted by the hangman, Jack Ketch.  It is number eleven in the set. 

The following text accompanies the slide during a magic lantern show:

Punch: Oh dear, Mr. Hangman, I didn’t mean to do it, you wouldn’t hurt a poor old man like me. Take that nasty looking thing away, it makes me feel sick. I shan’t enjoy my dinner.

Hangman: Well, Mr. Punch, you deserve to be hanged, but I did hear this morning that the baby is getting better, and you may get off after all, but don’t you never go and do such a thing again. Now off you go quick, here comes the Bogie man.

2 comments:

Dashwood said...

Punch must be charming indeed to be able to not only convince Jack Ketch to take away his gallows but cause him to give a friendly warning that the bogeyman is coming. One's friends must always warn against bogeymen.

Joseph Crisalli said...

I concur. That's always good information to have.