3-074-930 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Little Tommy's Christmas Tableaux Vivants, drawn by Harry Furniss, 1883. 'Master Tommy as Father Christmas, will introduce the Distinguished Visitors...Slumborough Hall, 27th December. My dear Harry, We had such a lark last night...it turned out jolly fun...my speech went off splendidly. What do you think I did? You'd never guess. All the characters were done by fellows I knew, so when they came I just described them by their real names, and said what they were like. They were waxy, especially Perkins major, as you may suppose; but the people laughed liked anything...This was my speech, as near as I can remember; and I've made some pictures to show you what the fellows were got up like: "Ladies and Gentlemen, Tableaux Vivants are fellows dressed up in fine clothes and wigs, and called Public. Characters, to make you think they are something extraordinary, but really they are only chaps from our school...And last of all comes Jack Mills; he can draw! You should see the sketches he makes of all the masters - he doesn't flatter them, either! Lucky beggar; he's doing Kitty's picture now. I wish I was. Did you ever see her dance? It is ripping!"...Ta ta. Your old chum, Tommy'. From "Illustrated London News", 1883.