Punch or the London Charivari, Vol. 109, September 7, 1895 (Illustrated)

["Is the 'Penny Dreadful' and its influence so very dreadful, I wonder?"—James Payn.]

Alas! for the poor "Penny Dreadful"!
They say if a boy gets his head-full
Of terrors and crimes,
He turns pirate—sometimes;
Or of horrors, at least, goes to bed full.
Now is this according to Cocker?
Of Beaks one would not be a mocker,
But do many lads
Turn thieves or foot-pads,
Through reading the cheap weekly Shocker?
Such literature is not healthy;
But does it make urchins turn stealthy
Depleters of tills,
Destroyers of wills,
Or robbers of relatives wealthy?
I have gloated o'er many a duel,
I've heard of Don Pedro the Cruel:
Heart pulsing at high rate,
I've read how my Pirate
Gave innocent parties their gruel.
Yet I have ne'er felt a yearning
For stabbing, or robbing, or burning.
No highwayman clever
And handsome, has ever
Induced me to take the wrong turning!
A lad who's a natural "villing,"
When reading of robbing and killing
May feel wish to do so;
But Sheppard—like Crusoe—
To your average boy's only "thrilling."
Ah! thousands on Shockers have fed full,
And yet not of crimes got a head-full.
Let us put down the vile,
Yet endeavour the while,
To be just to the poor "Penny Dreadful"!