natural Outlines and an Aspect wanting in those humorous Departures from the natural Construction of the Human Frame which, though indeed in Accordance with serious Draughtsmanship, are ever at Variance with the true Principle and Instinct of Comic Art.
"Let us consider first," he continued, "my training School for Models; for is it not, alas! owing to the Want of these that our Art is presently in so decayed a Condition? I would be choosing my Models from among the most promising Infants that could be hit upon, that is to say, that promised to be of a humorous Aspect; and, by the means of a most ingenious Machinery of my own inventing, I would so encourage in their Persons those Efforts towards Humour which Dame Nature would be for making, as to fit them the more completely to carry out her Intentions. For I hold that, as Nature is often inclined toward a genial Humour and Pleasantry intended for the Delight and Comfort of Mankind; so are her efforts most sadly thwarted by a perverse striving in all Men after a Regularity and Normality of Form which was never intended.
"Please, sir, here's the model come."
"Therefore, finding an Infant of a notable development of Nose, I would, by the Use of augmentative Ointments, developing Moulds, and other cunning Inventions contrived by myself, so foster the first Effort of Nature that the Infant should, on arriving at Maturity, possess an Organ of a Size equal to its Head, or even of its whole Body. Picture to yourself how well-fitted such a Being would be, as well to fulfil the Requirements of the Comic Artist, as to minister to the Amusement, and therefore greater Happiness, of the Public!
"In Time," he proceeded, "and after a few Generations, my Academy would possess, by reason of this Treatment, a Staff of Models of the most humorous Aspect; some having Heads an hundred times as large as their Trunks (such as are seen in Pantomimes); and some being quite Flat, like a Sheet of Paper; while others would have developed most comical Tails, Web-Feet, Ears that resembled Wings, and many other most humorous Appendages.
Felis Leo Heraldicus in his native jungle.
"Nor would I confine my Attentions to the human Frame; for, even as Nature has purposed that a certain Vein of genial Pleasantry shall run through all her Works, equally I would strive to assist her in this her Intent by the extending of my Scheme to the Beasts, Birds, and Fishes, and to Landscape; so that I would have most laughable Lions and Griffins, having Tails that should develop into Scrolls and fantastic Leaves, such as are presently limned by the Heralds' College; which indeed is, in a fashion, a School of Comic Art itself, save that it does not go far enough in its carrying out of Nature's Plan.
"I am in truth of an earnest Opinion that a Menagerie filled with such Beasts as I have suggested would infuse into the Public a very intense overpowering Interest; even as it would in like Wise help in the restoring of that national Merriment and Hilarity which have been undermined and destroyed by long Continuance of our dismal Climate.
