YACHTSMEN--FOREIGN RULERS
Sir Reginald Macdonald's caricature.--H.R.H. the Duke of
Edinburgh's invitation.--The _Lively_.--The _Hercules_.--
Admiral Sir William Hewitt.--Irish excursions.--The Channel
Squadron.--Fishing party at Loch Brine.--The young Princes
arrive on the _Bacchante_.--Cruise to Vigo.--The "Night
Alarm."--The Duke as _bon voyageur_.--Vigo.--The birthday
picnic.--A bear-fight on board the _Hercules_.--Homeward
bound.--Good-bye.--The Duke's visit to my studio.
Some years before my cruise on the _Hercules_ I had caricatured a
young man of whom "Jehu Junior" prophesied a career of no mean order.
Lord Charles Beresford has performed all that was expected of him, but
it is difficult to recognize in him to-day my subject of 1867. When he
came to my studio I was struck by his characteristic stride, and asked
him to walk up and down my studio while I endeavoured to capture some
impression of his rolling gait, curly hair and jolly laugh. He was
willing to be made fun of, and his excellent company aided me in
arriving at a result which may best be gathered from the following
letter, which I received from him on the completion of the caricature.
"Fairfield, York,
"1876.
"MY DEAR WARD,
"The _Vanity Fair_ cartoon is really the only caricature that I
know that ever was in the least like me, I think it quite
excellent. I know it is the exact way I stand and I am generally
smiling profusely. All my friends were delighted with it, and at
Osborne they all said it was capital. I hope you were pleased
with it yourself; I am sure you ought to be.
"Yours very sincerely,
"CHARLES BERESFORD."
[Illustration: 1876. "CHARLIE" BERESFORD.]
[Illustration: ADMIRAL SIR REGD. MACDONALD. "R.I.M." 1880.]
[Illustration: 1902. ADMIRAL SIR JOHN FISHER.]
[Illustration: CAPTAIN JELLICOE. 1906.]
At this time I heard a story of Lord Charles, who was always known as
"Charlie Beresford," and who played many a practical joke. There was a
very stout and good-humoured lady who was a general favourite in
society and especially with young men. On one occasion she happened to
be leaving an evening-party when Lord Charles escorted her to her
brougham, which appeared a tight fit for her, and being prompted by a
sudden fit of devilment he seized the linkman who was handy and thrust
him into her carriage. Directly the door was closed, the oblivious
coachman drove off, and what happened afterwards must be left to the
imagination.
In that year I went down to Cowes for the yachting week, as it was
quite the best opportunity for following up the types of well-known
yachtsmen, and I passed many amusing hours in the gardens of the
Squadron.
Amongst the most frequent visitors was Lady Cardigan in gayest attire,
and usually accompanied by a much-beribboned poodle, the colour of
whose furbelows matched her own. I greatly appreciated her
hospitality, for she had an inexhaustible fund of good stories which
secured many an extra point through her wit in the telling. Just then
Prince Battyany was renting Eaglehurst, and I have a very pleasant
recollection of being taken to a garden-party there by Lord and Lady
Londonderry on their yacht the _Aileen_.
The next time I went to Cowes was on the occasion of the German
Emperor's first visit, when the little place was naturally
overcrowded, and in consequence I had unusual difficulty in getting
into the Squadron. On previous occasions I had had no trouble in
being "put up" for the club, but it seemed that every one was full up.
I was extremely disappointed as the proprietor of _Vanity Fair_ (Mr.
Gibson Bowles) had particularly wished me to make a representative
group of prominent members of the R.Y.S. I was in a quandary, so I
went to the secretary, Mr. Pasley, and told him of my predicament. He
said, "They're all full up, I am sorry I haven't the power to let you
in, but I will do my best for you. I will speak to the Prince of
Wales, he is sure to be here soon." We were talking at the gate of the
castle grounds when suddenly the secretary said, "Here he comes."
H.R.H. upon hearing of my dilemma, with his usual good nature sent a
message to tell me that he regretted I had not let him know before and
that I might come in whenever I liked, and at once if I wished. So I
received my pass in due course.
The late Chevalier Martino was of course "all there" as a guest of the
Emperor William on board the _Hohenzollern_. He was a Neapolitan, and
of a most impassioned temperament. I remember meeting him one night at
dinner. The conversation fell on the battle of Trafalgar, and,
forgetting the dishes which were before him he suddenly rose from the
table and started to recite the "Death of Nelson." During the
recitation he worked himself to such a pitch of emotion that at the
climax of the death scene, he fell to all appearance lifeless upon the
floor.
When I met him shortly afterwards, he said, "You must have thought I
was mad that evening, but I couldn't help it, I am an enthusiast."
[Illustration: KING EDWARD VII. 1902.]
He was a favourite with both King Edward and the German Emperor, and
was marine-painter in ordinary to our Sovereign. In the course of
further conversation he told me that he had been in the Italian Navy,
and that with his knowledge of ships he did not require to make more
than the very slightest notes preparatory to illustrating a naval
review. He was an interesting companion and told very good stories.
The Emperor was very sympathetic to Martino who, in consequence of a
paralytic trouble with which he was afflicted, found considerable
difficulty in rising from the table. He told me that the Emperor
would, with one arm, lift him to his feet as though he was a feather,
with a strength that was surprising. He always refused to exhibit his
pictures, but at his death many of them were collected for public
exhibition. His work was thoroughly appreciated by naval men as being
so absolutely accurate.
On one occasion, being invited by a member of the Squadron to dine
upon his yacht, I was struck by the beauty of the lady to whom I sat
next. The Admiral had an excellent _chef_ on board, and consequently
we were served with a particularly good dinner, but I appreciated his
hospitality rather less when he passed me drawing materials with which
to depict the lady. I paid her a polite compliment, but wasn't to be
"drawn" in this way in return for my dinner.
Lord Albemarle, whom I have portrayed, is a notable yachtsman, and
also a clever caricaturist with a great feeling for drawing and
sculpture, so he spends much of his spare time in his studio. He
served his country in the South African War, as Lieut.-Colonel in the
C.I.V., and is Lieut.-Colonel in the Scots Guards (retired), as did
Mr. Rupert Guinness, who was also one of my _Vanity Fair_ series, and
who took me over the Royal Naval Volunteer training ship (the
_Buzzard_) on the Thames embankment, which he commands.
Of course, in these sea-days I very frequently enjoyed sailing with my
more intimate friends. I had great times with my old friend, Harry
McCalmont, who was a whole-hearted sailor, as was his father before
him. He was always very much to the fore at Cowes in the yachting
season, and it will be remembered that he built the _Geralda_, which
eventually became the royal yacht of Spain. He afterwards presented me
with her white ensign, and it was on her deck that I portrayed him in
a large oil picture which I painted some time before his death. He,
like Lord Albemarle, served in South Africa and was in the Scots
Guards. I spent many delightful hours too, with Charlie Brookfield on
his little cutter, sailing here and there from one point to another,
around the Isle of Wight.
When Sir Thomas Lipton first built _Shamrock_, it was obvious that he
should appear in the series of _Vanity Fair_ celebrities. He sat to me
in my studio when, during conversation, he told me of his implicit
belief in the uses of advertisement, which he considered the
corner-stone of success.
I have been particularly fortunate in my opportunities for observation
when at work on the Royal yachtsmen, among whom was King Edward
himself. The Prince was always most kind and courteous, and when I had
the honour of receiving a sitting from him, he did not forget to
inquire after my father, whose health was not all that could be
desired at the time, and later on when my father died I received the
following letter of sympathy:--
"DEAR MR. WARD,
"I am desired by the Prince of Wales to write and let you know
how sincerely sorry he is to hear of the terrible affliction
which has fallen upon you, and to assure you that you have his
unfeigned sympathy in your sorrow.
"He had known your father so long that he could not help letting
you know what he felt on this sad occasion.
"Believe me,
"Yours truly,
"FRANCIS KNOLLYS."
In many indefinable ways the King never missed an opportunity of
showing his kindness for which I was always grateful. When I made a
portrait of him as Prince of Wales I received a letter of
acknowledgment from which I may quote the following extract:--"The
King thinks the portrait an excellent one, and there is nothing in it
to alter."
Some years after when he had begun to show signs of _embonpoint_, a
fact of which he was fully aware, I had the honour of a sitting, and
he said laughingly:--
"Now let me down gently."
"Oh, but you've a very fine chest, sir," I replied.
He laughed and shook his head at me, as though he found my aim at
diplomacy more entertaining than convincing.
Queen Alexandra also sat to me at Marlborough House, where I made the
drawing in black and white for _Vanity Fair_, but when I took it to
the editor he decided that it must be coloured, as were all the
previous cartoons. The Princess of Wales, as she then was, had been
so kind in giving me sittings that I dared not suggest more, so I
attempted to colour my sketch from memory, and in my anxiety to get
the flesh tint I spoilt it, as I found it impossible to obtain the
clearness of colour over the pencil work, and in trying to do so I
ruined the sketch. Later on I met the Prince (Edward VII.) and he
asked me what I had done with the drawing of the Princess. On my
informing him of the fate of the sketch, and the circumstance of its
destruction, he said, seeing my concern and embarrassment: "Well,
don't worry yourself. No one has yet succeeded in making a
satisfactory portrait of the Princess--not even Angeli," although one
or two successful portraits have been painted of Her Majesty since
then both as Princess of Wales and Queen.
One of my very early caricatures was one of her brother, the late King
of Greece, done from memory. Comparatively recently, Prince Louis of
Battenberg (a handsome subject), whom I had studied beforehand at the
Admiralty, came to my studio, and he brought the Princess Louise and
Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein to see the result with which
they expressed themselves much pleased, and the drawing is now in
their possession.
In 1875 I was interested in making a study of the Prince Imperial at
Chiselhurst, and I have a very vivid recollection of my introduction
to him, which took place at a dance given by Lord and Lady Otho
Fitzgerald at Oakley Court. I had been invited with the other members
of my family, and it chanced that my dress clothes were in the hands
of my tailor, who failed to return them at the promised hour. Leaving
word that the parcel was to be forwarded immediately I went down to
Windsor to inform my sisters that there was but a poor chance of my
being able to join them. They were almost weeping over the news as my
father and mother were away from home and they were relying on my
escorting them to the ball. However, at the last moment the parcel
arrived, but on putting on the coat and waistcoat I discovered that
they were not mine, but were undoubtedly intended for a person at
least twice my size.
Everybody was in despair, but my sisters said, "You must go!" So I had
to swallow my pride and entered the ball-room awkwardly enough as I
had buckled back my waistcoat as far as I could, but with the coat
there was nothing to be done but take a lappel over each arm and do my
best to conceal the ill-fitting garment (which I could have folded
twice round my body) by holding it out of sight. I kept well in the
background through the early part of the evening, but after supper I
felt bolder, and decided to dance at any price.
In the ball-room I felt a fool indeed, like "Auguste" at the circus,
and on asking one fair lady for a dance noticed her furtive glance
sweep over me; I hastened to explain the reason of my unfortunate
plight, at which she took pity on me and gave me a dance. I was young
then and took a pride in well-fitting clothes, yet it was under these
most trying circumstances that I was presented to the Prince Imperial
and, with both my arms fully occupied, pride of speech and ease of
demeanour were far from me at that difficult moment.
Lord Otho being a prominent member of the R.Y.S., the burgee of that
club usually flew from the flagstaff of Oakley Court. _A propos_ of
this Captain Bay Middleton, one of the guests, who could never resist
a practical joke, persuaded the Prince Imperial to accompany him, in
the small hours of the morning following the dance, to the summit of
the tower, where he, having procured a towel hoisted it in place of
the R.Y.S. Banzee. The Prince thought this was a great joke, but I
never heard that the owner shared his opinion.
Shortly afterwards I was driving along a dusty road _en route_ to
Ascot Races when I passed Lord Otho's coach with the Prince Imperial
upon it, but as I was covered with dust I certainly did not expect the
latter to recognize me. However, when we met by appointment at Charing
Cross to travel to Chiselhurst the first thing he said, with a smile,
was, "Why did you cut me the other day on the road to Ascot?" Of
course I had nothing to say.
On the journey the Prince talked most interestingly, and I gathered
that he felt sanguine as to the belief of his ultimate succession to
the throne of France. From his charm of manner and general
conversation I could quite understand his popularity with his brother
officers in the British Army. He did not strike me as being
particularly smart in dress or general appearance, although he wore
his hat well tilted on one side, and he clicked his heels in French
fashion, as he had evidently been taught to do from boyhood.
On arriving at Chiselhurst we drove together to the residence of the
Empress Eugenie where he gave me every opportunity of studying his
characteristics, and upon the publication of his cartoon I received a
letter of appreciation with a signed photograph of himself which is
still unfaded, and which I greatly value.
[Illustration: SIR JOHN ASTLEY
(_The mate_).
1908.]
[Illustration: PETER GILPIN
(_Gentleman Trainer_).
1908]
[Illustration: "JIM" LOWTHER, M.P.
1877.]
[Illustration: EARL OF MACCLESFIELD.
1881.]
I have drawn and caricatured and made portraits of the numerous
foreign rulers, who have visited our islands from time to time. When
Don Carlos (the Pretender to the Spanish throne) came to England in
1876 I visited him at Claridge's, where he was staying, to study him
for _Vanity Fair_. I found him a very picturesque and striking figure
in his uniform, which he put on for me, including the Order of the
Golden Fleece. He was very obliging, and offered to lend me his
uniform to use for further details, also the Order, which he begged me
to treasure with the greatest possible care, as he stated that it had
been handed down in his family for generations, and was, of course, of
great value to him. I promised to be very careful that nothing should
befall it, and when the uniform and the Order arrived I sought for a
model, preferably a soldier; and incidentally asked Colonel Fred
Burnaby if he knew a man big enough to wear it. He very kindly
permitted his soldier-servant, who was a very fine man to stand for
me, and when he came to the studio, and had donned the uniform I
entrusted him with the Order of the Golden Fleece, and cautioned him
to handle it very carefully. Taking it up to fasten round his neck he
straightway dropped it on the floor, where it broke in half. When it
snapped in two imagine my horror. It was with difficulty that I
restrained my anger. On finding it broken I hurried off with it to
Hancocks, the jewellers in Bond Street, who promised to mend it to the
best of their ability. On the return of the decoration I could detect
no flaw; it appeared exactly as it was, but the accident was costly.
Needless to say I soon returned it and was thankful to hear no more
about it.
An amusing _contretemps_ occurred when I was sent by my editor to
"stalk" General Ignatieff, who was at Claridge's Hotel. I had thought
the best plan would be to stay there for a day or two, in order to
obtain good facilities for studying him, so I arrived with my
portmanteau, and endeavoured to ascertain something of the habits of
the general. My curiosity resulted in old Mr. Claridge politely
ordering my bag to be removed. When I informed him of my identity and
disclosed the reason for my interest in the General's movements, his
reply was somewhat as follows:--
"I know there is such a person as 'Spy' because I can show you a lot
of his cartoons in my room, I do not doubt your word, but I have no
proof and would rather that you went." But he was considerate in
giving what information he could as to his whereabouts, and after
saving my hotel bill I managed to catch my victim on his way from
Hatfield.
In 1877 my editor was anxious to procure a drawing of Midhat Pasha for
_Vanity Fair_, and as there was a great difficulty in obtaining an
interview, I was smuggled into his presence by Mr. Gibson Bowles, who
had an official appointment with him. The Pasha, it will be
remembered, had just been exiled from his own country and this
opportunity offered me every facility for making close observation of
him who was, at the same time, ignorant of my identity or purpose.
I was fortunate in the case of Mooh-ton-oolk, Sir Salar Jung, Minister
of the Nizam of Hyderabad. Sir Salar was received with great
acclamation in England on account of the excellent service he had
rendered to the English in the suppression of the mutiny. He also did
much to break down caste prejudice. I attended his wonderful
breakfast at that residence in Piccadilly which is now the Bachelor's
Club. Sir Salar had brought with him to England his curry-cook who
provided us with innumerable curries, of which very few were familiar
to me although I enjoyed them considerably, more than that I was much
interested in the distinguished company who were present. Following
the breakfast my eminent host gave me an opportunity of making a
sketch of him.
Some little time afterwards I accepted an invitation to dinner, which
was given on a magnificent scale at the "Star and Garter," Richmond,
and organized for him by a mutual friend, a lady whose husband owned
the house that Sir Salar Jung temporarily occupied.
Over a hundred guests sat down to the banquet, which was arranged
should be followed by a dance. It chanced that I drove down in a
hansom and a violent thunder storm came on so that in spite of all
precautions the front of my dress shirt became hopelessly splashed
with mud. As it was too late to retrace my steps I decided to buy a
dicky (this appendage being a novelty to me), and fix it over the
damaged shirt front. Twice after I imagined it was safely fixed it
flew up with surprising suddenness, and when my hostess asked me to
help her with the dance that she had arranged should follow the dinner
that evening, I felt more than a shade of embarrassment as I feared
the dicky might betray me and my movements were therefore cautious,
though with an additional pin I managed to secure it and all went well
in the end.
H.H. Ras Makunan, K.C.M.G., who was cousin and heir-apparent to the
Emperor Menelik of Abyssinia, was also a warrior and a sportsman, and
represented the Emperor at King Edward's coronation.
He was persuaded to make an appointment with me at my studio, and
arrived at the early hour of 8 a.m. with his attendant, previous to
breakfasting with the officers of the Horse Guards at the
Knightsbridge barracks.
Before his visit I had been given the tip to have in readiness a
bottle of good port wine, but upon pouring out a glass I was told that
he judged it wiser to delay any refreshment until after breakfast. In
the meantime small boys had collected at the entrance to my studio,
being attracted by the Royal carriage waiting at the door. When they
saw the chief occupant enter it they simply stared in amazement with
open mouths. Finding a second interview necessary, which was arranged
for at the Westminster Palace Hotel, I called at the appointed hour,
but being kept waiting for a very considerable time sent up a
reminder. Sir John was very angry at the delay, and after persuading
the Ras that it was not the custom to treat gentlemen in such a manner
he came out from an inner room (where he had been busily occupied
sorting coloured silks) and did his duty to me, in fact sat in quite a
stately manner, holding his long gun characteristically. During the
process of sketching him I was given the hint not to make him quite as
black as nature had painted him.
A kind of levee (if I may say so) was occasionally held by Cetewayo
when he visited England and was housed in Melbury Road. As I wanted to
see him I procured an invitation to one of these receptions.
[Illustration: CHINESE AMBASSADOR.
KUO SUNG TUO.
1877.]
[Illustration: RAS MAKOUNNEN.
1903.]
[Illustration: CHINESE AMBASSADOR.
CHANG TA JEN.
1903.]
The deposed monarch who looked quite jolly and robust shook me by the
hand as though I might be some one in authority. My visit afterwards
bore fruit in _Vanity Fair_, for I represented him as I saw him,
nearly bursting through his light grey tweed suit with a kingly
headgear of black velvet enriched with gold braid and a golden tassel
attached.
On leaving this country I was told that his chief ambition was to take
back with him some good specimens of our best sporting dogs. Well-bred
fox terriers were procured, therefore, but when shown to him he feared
they would not be strong enough, for it was for hunting he required
them, "for hunting the man," so I believe bloodhounds filled their
place.
In the case of the Shah of Persia it was different, for when
eventually I gained an audience at Marlborough House he received me
with courtesy, and I was somewhat embarrassed on seeing him desert (at
all events _pro tem._), several gentlemen, great authorities on the
latest improvement in guns which were being shown him at his especial
request. I was directed to the window and His Majesty evidently
anxious to assist me, ordered the curtains to be drawn further apart
that I might see him in a good light, he then came so close that I
could focus only his nose which certainly was _the_ feature in his
face.
After making my obeisance I withdrew in favour of those I previously
stood in the way of; and from the slight sketch I made and, relying on
my memory for the rest, I eventually made my picture.
Having already studied the Viscount Tadasa Hayashi, a distinguished
Japanese Minister at the court of St. James', and wishing to depict
him in evening dress I persuaded him to come to my studio and to
bring with him his star and ribbon. With the characteristic courtesy
of the best of his race he appeared most good-naturedly in the early
morning, dressed as though he were going to an evening reception, and
thoroughly entered into the spirit of his portrait and my work.
Among the large number of Ministers and Ambassadors I have depicted, I
may mention the names of Counts Munster, Paul Metternich, Mensdorff,
Messrs. Choate, Bayard, Hay and Whitelaw Reid, and last but not least
Count Benckendorff.
The latter (whom I have frequently had the pleasure of meeting at the
Beefsteak Club) amused me greatly when he came to my studio by saying,
"It is a simple task you have before you, you have only to draw an
egg--a nose--and an eyeglass and it is done."