Page:More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, etc. (1872).djvu/12

vi to which many absurd reports have crept into circulation, such as that it was the composition of the late Lord Brougham, the late Earl of Derby, &c.; that the rhymes and pictures are by different persons; or that the whole have a symbolical meaning, &c., &c.; whereas, every one of the Rhymes was composed by myself, and every one of the Illustrations drawn by my own hand at the time the verses were made. Moreover, in no portion of these Nonsense drawings have I ever allowed any caricature of private or public persons to appear, and throughout, more care than might be supposed has been given to make the subjects incapable of misinterpretation: ‘‘Nonsense,’’ pure and absolute, having been my aim throughout.

As for the persistently absurd report of the late Earl of Derby being the author of the ‘‘First Book of Nonsense,’’ I may relate an incident which occurred to me four summers ago, the first that gave me any insight into the origin of the rumour.

I was on my way from London to Guildford, in a railway carriage, containing, besides myself, one passenger, an elderly gentleman:—presently, however, two ladies entered, accompanied by two little boys. These, who had just had a copy of the ‘‘Book of Nonsense’’ given them, were loud in their delight, and by degrees infected the whole party with their mirth

“How grateful,’’ said the old gentleman to the two ladies, “all children and parents too ought to be to the statesman who has given his time to composing that charming book!”

(The ladies looked puzzled, as indeed was I, the Author.)

“Do you not know who is the writer of it?’’ asked the gentleman.