It’s Okay to Laugh

By Megan Lentz, Digitization Technician

Have you ever had a job where every day is a new learning experience?

I am lucky enough to have such a job. As a Digitization Technician for the National Sporting Library & Museum (NSLM), I get to work with books housed in our F. Ambrose Clark Rare Book Room daily.

A view of the F. Ambrose Clark Rare Book Room

My work provides access to our holdings by making them available online, in a digital format, using Archive.org. It is incredibly rewarding to experience these rare historical gems. They’re more than just books—they offer a window into the past.

I’ve digitized more than 150 books, and I often stumble upon Henry Thomas Alken (pseudonym Ben Tally-Ho). His illustrations never fail to make me laugh aloud—yes, even by myself.

Henry Thomas Alken was an artist/writer whose works consisted of various equestrian sports. His most notable pieces were created between the years of 1816 and 1831.

Henry Alken, Driving discoveries…(London; S & J. Fuller, 1817)

Alken took great pleasure in depicting the comedic side of overmounted aristocrats and their idiosyncrasies while coaching and foxhunting.

I found Qualified Horses and Unqualified Riders particularly amusing. Click Here to follow along!

Alken’s illustrations answer the question, “What would happen when a horse is more experienced than the rider?”, the precarious positions of both horse and rider, coupled with their telling facial expressions, are nothing, short of hilarious.

Henry Alken, Qualified Horses and Unqualified Riders…(London: S & J. Fuller)

Not all of Alken’s works were meant to provide comic relief. At times he chose to express the inherent risks of horse sports.

I hope you, too, find humor in Alken’s publications as well as in your own adventures. Life is messy—and funny—and laughter is the best medicine.

If you would like to view his other pieces, currently digitized, please follow the link here!