1-150-415 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

'The Merry Swiss Boy The Return of the Tourist', 1865. On the one side, a jolly Swiss landlord sings as he counts his money. On the other, a dejected young British tourist faces a pile of unpayable bills. This cartoon is accompanied by one of Punch's little ditties entitled 'The Real Swiss Boy'. Foreign trips were very popular during the mid Victorian period and the point Mr Punch is making is that the foreigners make their fortunes out of the tourist industry through a system of ruthless overcharging. At the end of the season, the tourist is penniless, his wealth having neatly transferred itself to the other side of the balance sheet. From Punch, or the London Charivari, October 15, 1865.