Phil May Sketches from “PUNCH.” Phil May Sketches from “PUNCH.” [Illustration: colophon] LONDON: “Punch” Office, 10, Bouverie Street, E.C. [Illustration: The Whitefriars Press.] Bradbury, Agnew & Co., Ltd., Printers, London and Tonbridge. Phil May. _Born, April 22, 1864._ _Died, August 5, 1903._ If the death of PHIL MAY is a loss that the world of art may not soon retrieve, to his wide circle of friends it is an irreparable hurt. He had a nature made to love; so great a charm of gentleness and unaffected modesty went with his splendid gifts. The hard times of early life, that helped him in his art, as they helped another Filippo, to “learn the look of things,” left their trace, too, in the almost reckless generosity he showed for the needs of others. Less careful for himself, he suffered as a man must suffer who has a heart too quickly responsive to the claims of good fellowship always to distinguish in others between friendship and mere _camaraderie_. Among his colleagues at the Table he inspired a personal affection not less frank and sincere than their admiration, never even faintly tinged with envy, for the genius from which they caught a reflected pride. Their only jealousy was of the happy possessor of the latest of those delightfully spontaneous sketches which he used to make on the backs of the _Punch_ Dinner menus. These gifts are treasured still more dearly now, along with many unrecorded memories that linger about his vacant place. OWEN SEAMAN. _From_ “PUNCH,” _August 12th, 1903_. Contents PAGE. FROM “PUNCH.” =“And _she_ ought to know!”= 2 _October 14th, 1893._ =Self-Criticism= 3 _April 4th, 1896._ =The Finishing Touch= 4 _August 18th, 1894._ =Q. E. D.= 5 _September 1st, 1894._ =The Plunger= 6 _December 15th, 1894._ =An Important ’Junction= 7 _September 22nd, 1894._ =Wasted Efforts= 8 _May 25th, 1895._ =A Sunday Dinner= 9 _July 27th, 1895._ =Blasé= 10 _July 7th, 1894._ =Much Ado= 11 _September 14th, 1895._ =A Soft Answer= 12 _February 23rd, 1895._ =Not what he meant= 13 _X’mas Number, 1894._ =Pickings from Picardy= 14 _September 7th, 1895._ =Botany; or, a Day in the Country= 15 _April 6th, 1895._