MARRIAGE--SOME CLERICS--FAREWELL TO _VANITY FAIR_
My engagement and marriage to Miss Topham-Watney.--"Drawl"
and the Kruger cartoon.--"The General Group."--Field-Marshal
Lord Roberts.--Archbishops Temple and Randall Davidson.--The
Bishop of London.--Archbishop of York.--Canon Fleming.--Lord
Montagu of Beaulieu.--Lord Salisbury's cartoon.--Mr. Asquith.
--Joe Knight.--Lord Newlands.--Four great men in connection
with Canada.--The Queen of Spain.--Princess Beatrice of
Saxe-Coburg.--General Sir William Francis Butler, G.C.B.--Mr.
Witherby.--Farewell to _Vanity Fair_.
Among my lady friends during my bachelor days there was one who was
always telling me that I ought to marry and settle down, and in time I
began to think so myself. One day she informed me that she had found
the very girl. I was introduced to her, found her exceedingly
attractive, and shortly we met again at a luncheon-party. On this
occasion it was arranged that the whole party should drive down to the
Ranelagh Club, and it fell to my happy lot to escort her. I remember
on the road we discussed the types we each preferred, and although
neither fulfilled the ideal of the other it was quite a satisfactory
afternoon, and we met again frequently, previous to my visit to my
friend, Freddy Bentinck, at Brownsea Island. I had a glorious time
there, but when I got back to town and failed to see the announcement
of my marriage in _The Morning Post_, I hastened down into the country
to find out the reason, only to discover that my engagement had been
broken off. My future bride was much admired, and exceedingly popular
with her many friends, and adored by her very discreet parents, and I,
alas, was financially--no catch. In the circumstances I could only
accept my _conge_, and although it was some time before I was given
the opportunity of meeting her again, we were always good friends.
Some years later fate decreed that my old love and I should meet
again, and we found ourselves alighting from the same train both bound
on a visit to the same country-house in Herefordshire. This unexpected
event proved too much for us, and this time we determined to ignore
the opinions of our relatives and "so-called" good friends of former
years, and within a few months we married.
The ceremony took place at St. Michael's, Chester Square, and the Rev.
Canon Fleming, who was a very dear old friend of all of us, especially
of my mother, officiated with the aid of the Rev. John Labouchere,
Harry Newton being my best man. The reception was held at the Hans
Crescent Hotel, at which there was a large attendance of friends.
Amongst the many beautiful gifts we received, a canteen of silver
presented to me by members of the Beefsteak Club was prominent, and in
the face of fifteen years of happiness even my most pessimistic
friends are bound to admit that I have not made the failure of double
harness that they anticipated.
[Illustration: MY DAUGHTER.]
[Illustration: MY WIFE.]
During the latter part of our honeymoon we joined my wife's people at
Monte Carlo, where rather an amusing incident occurred _a propos_ of
my cartoon of Kruger. Mrs. Raby Watney (my wife's mother) received a
letter from her brother, Mr. Marshall Hall, in which he said that a
drawing of Kruger, which had just appeared in _Vanity Fair_, was much
appreciated, and that the reproduction, enlarged and reflected on a
screen, appearing nightly at the Palace Theatre, was creating quite a
sensation. He added, "Tell Leslie he mustn't allow himself to be cut
out by other artists." So Mrs. Watney wrote back to him, "Look at the
signature, 'Drawl,' and read it backwards."
As I have said before, it is my rule never to place my signature "Spy"
under a drawing I have not made from observation of the subject
himself, but so anxious was the editor to publish a cartoon of Kruger
that to test my powers of imagination, and with the addition of a
description of his personal appearance from one who knew him, I made
it and sent it in to the office.
But the most amusing comment of all occurred in the reviews of the
bound volume of _Vanity Fair_. As usual they were most polite and
complimentary to "Spy," who was declared to be quite up to his
standard, but they added, "We must confess the best drawings in the
volume are by a man who signs himself Drawl," and one paper proceeded
to describe the new caricaturist in full, and among other details said
that he was a Dane.
On our return to London we looked about for a house and found it very
difficult to find a suitable one with a studio attached, so eventually
we decided on a house in Elizabeth Street, and I to keep on my old
studio at 177, Bromfield Place, Pimlico Road, which I had occupied for
fifteen years.
In June, 1900, there appeared in _Vanity Fair_ the drawing of
Field-Marshal Lord Roberts, whom I sketched in helmet and khaki, with
a suggestion of Oom Paul introduced in a boulder in the background.
This cartoon, on account of the subject, beat the record for
popularity, and its sale exceeded that of all other cartoons in
_Vanity Fair_. Later on, when the Commander-in-Chief came to my studio
to give me a sitting for the drawing which appeared in _The World_, he
told me that copies of this _Vanity Fair_ cartoon had come to him from
all parts with a request for him to sign it.
In the Christmas number of _Vanity Fair_ Lord Roberts was prominent
again as the central figure of "A General Group," which contained
portraits of Sir Redvers Buller, Lord Kitchener, General Hunter,
General French, General Pole-Carew, Sir George White, Lord Dundonald,
General Baden-Powell, Colonel Plumer, Sir Frederick Carrington, and
General Hector Macdonald. It was a difficult subject to imagine, but
it worked out satisfactorily as I was familiar with nearly all in the
group.
About this time I made my mental notes for the _Vanity Fair_ drawing
of Archbishop Temple in St. Paul's Cathedral. The prelate had then
become almost blind, and had to be conducted to and from the pulpit.
Some years later I went to Lambeth Palace to sketch the present
Archbishop (Dr. Randall Davidson). I was received by his charming
wife, and when I got into conversation with the Archbishop he talked
to me of his old friend, and said, "One of the best portraits I have
ever seen of Archbishop Temple is that one hanging on the wall; I
don't know who did it." "Oh, I'm so very pleased that you think that,"
I replied, "because you will find my signature there, and I did it
entirely from observation after a visit to St. Paul's."
[Illustration: THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, DR. TEMPLE 1902]
At the official residence of the Bishop of Stepney, 2, Amen Court, in
the precincts of St. Paul's Cathedral, I sketched both the Bishop of
London and the present Archbishop of York at the time when each ruled
over the see of Stepney. When sketching Dr. Winnington-Ingram again,
as Bishop of London, for _The World_, he came to my studio, and was
extremely friendly and entertaining as a sitter. It was about the time
of my marriage that my drawing of Canon Fleming appeared in _Vanity
Fair_. Of course I knew his face very well indeed. He was the
kindest-looking of men, and the cartoon eventually came into the
possession of his family.
It was through my old friend, Archie Stuart-Wortley, that I first knew
John Scott-Montagu, now Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, his first cousin and
great pal, and we spent many delightful days together, at the Palace
House, Beaulieu, and in his delightful bungalow on the Solent. John
was a brilliant and most versatile young man; it was difficult to say
what he could not do, and there is very little about which he does not
know something. At one time he will be absorbed in engineering, at
another in commerce or in literary work, or may be political. He is a
very fine shot, a keen fisherman, in fact, a good all-round sportsman
and a most entertaining companion. He has driven a railway engine, but
although now absorbed in plans and buildings for the development of
Beaulieu, and also in the building of another beautiful house on the
Solent for himself, he is, of course, always tremendously keen on
everything relating to _The Car_. His brain power and energy are
amazing. I have drawn him and also his wife, who is a daughter of the
late Marquis of Lothian. She is an accomplished musician and a
charming hostess. I always think of Lord Montagu in connection with
the difficulty of conveying a correct sense of height in these
full-length _Vanity Fair_ cartoons. For instance, to insure a clear
impression of his moderate height, in my drawing I lowered the head
considerably below the margin of the paper upon which it was drawn,
while in its published form the printers had placed it on a level with
the margin, thereby giving the impression of increased height, and
consequently of a decidedly tall man.
Naturally the proportion of a figure being relative to the space
surrounding it, I took good care in the case of Major Oswald Ames, who
is something like 6 feet 8 inches, to make his head almost touch the
margin; the same rule applied to the feet, and with the aid of a
miniature chair in the background the effect was produced.
I conclude I was fortunate with sketches of the late Lord Salisbury,
as a lady, a great friend of his, said that a grease paint picture I
made of him, in Cyril Maude's dressing-room at the Haymarket Theatre,
was quite the best she had ever seen of that distinguished statesman.
In 1902, I made another, after watching him again in the House of
Lords. It happened to be on the easel one day when Lord Redesdale came
to my studio, and he, being struck with it, complimented me by asking
if I would part with it, so that the original is now in his
possession, and by his permission is reproduced in this book.
[Illustration: THE MARQUIS OF SALISBURY, 1902.]
[Illustration: Letter of Appreciation]
[Illustration: Dinner given to Joseph Knight by the Dramatic Profession
At The Savoy Hotel June, The Fourth, 1905]
As regards the present Prime Minister, I was on the look out for him
one day, and he did not appear in the Lobby. A member of parliament
came up and asked me who I was looking for. I told him I wanted Mr.
Asquith, cautioning him, of course, not to let him know for what
purpose. He said, "I'll soon have him out," upon which I suggested
that he should tell him an amusing story. Consequently I got quite a
successful caricature, and not long after the cartoon was published it
was, with his approbation, reproduced in colour on the menu of some
important Liberal banquet at which he was to be present.
It was with very great pleasure that I designed the menu for the
complimentary dinner given by the members of the Dramatic Profession
to my old friend, Joe Knight, at the Savoy Hotel on the 4th June,
1905. It contained a portrait of himself for which he sat. He was one
of the oldest of the dramatic critics, and had been an art critic, and
an intimate friend of Rossetti. He was a very great favourite,
especially at the Garrick and Beefsteak Clubs, and he had a fine
library which was distributed at his death. A characteristic habit of
his was while relating a story to his neighbour at the dinner or
supper table to place the palm of his hand before his mouth as though
speaking in secrecy, but his voice always thundered out the words so
that every one in the room could hear, and there was no secret after
all!
One of the nicest men among the many hundreds who have been willing
subjects is Lord Newlands. I was struck with his considerate and
charming manner to all he came in contact with, even to an old
charwoman. It was interesting to hear him talk of his old friend, Dr.
Jowett, Master of Balliol College, whose memory he regarded with the
deepest respect. My early caricature of him seemed to have pleased him
so much that he not only gave a good sum for it at the sale of _Vanity
Fair_ cartoons at Christie's, but also commissioned me to make a copy
of it. As Henry Hozier he was secretary to Lord Salisbury, 1878-80.
Amongst the many prominent men in connection with Canada that I
cartooned were Sir Wilfrid Laurier, perhaps the most striking
personality of all the colonists that came my way; Sir Walter Blake,
who over here became a prominent member of the House of Commons; the
late Duke of Argyll, a delightfully intellectual and kind-hearted man;
Lord Minto, whom I depicted in Canadian riding-kit, who was a
gentleman to the backbone and a thorough sportsman; and Lord Grey,
whose distinguished career is so well known.
Of the Duke of Connaught, whose retirement, when it comes, is sure to
be felt in Canada with regret, it can only be said that no one of the
Royal Family could have filled the post better, and that a more
popular successor to the post of Governor-General could not have been
selected than Prince Alexander of Teck. Of course I mention all these
as having been victims of my brush at one time or another.
Shortly before her marriage, I went to Kensington Palace to make a
drawing of Princess Ena of Battenberg (now the Queen of Spain). I was
in some difficulty at first about the regulation of the light upon my
sitter, and to soften the effect I pinned a large sheet of brown paper
over the lower part of the window, but it was suggested by her mother
that, perhaps, some drapery would be equally serviceable and more
ornamental from the view of those outside. I am afraid that being keen
on my work I had not considered the appearance of the Palace windows
as no doubt I should have done.
The young Princess was a very handsome girl, with a wealth of
beautifully silky fair hair, a lovely complexion and fine eyes full of
fun; she was also particularly bright and natural in her manner. At
one of the sittings I met the Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg; I had
not the honour of a presentation, but she entered into conversation
with me. She was most charming, but although I gathered she had
unusual knowledge of art, it was not until after she had left the room
that I was informed of her identity. I regretted not having known at
the time that she was the daughter of the Duke of Edinburgh, as I
should have liked to have told her of my enjoyable cruise with her
father.
So highly did the Princess Henry of Battenberg value her niece's
criticism of my sketch, that when the young Princess disagreed with
her over the suggestion of a slight alteration in it, H.R.H.
good-humouredly gave in.
I have the pleasantest remembrance of the character drawing of General
Sir William Francis Butler, G.C.B., which I made for _Vanity Fair_ in
1907. The General was one of the Empire's very big men, and it will be
remembered that prior to the Boer War he was very sharply criticised
for certain pessimistic prophecies in connection with the war which
annoyed everybody; but events justified every word he uttered. He
married Miss Thompson of "The Roll Call" fame, and he was very much
struck with a proof print from a drawing of her that I had done for
_The Graphic_ at the time she painted "The Roll Call." It chanced that
he sat to me on my birthday, which was in November. I usually left my
studio at sunset in time to get a walk, but that afternoon I lingered
until dusk. Presently there came a ring at my bell, which I answered,
and seeing some one at a distance from the gate the visitor asked me
if Mr. Leslie Ward was in. I exclaimed, "Why, General! Don't you know
me? You've been sitting to me all the morning." He said, "Here is a
little parcel which I should like you to accept, it being your
birthday," and hurried off. I took it into my studio and found it
contained a pair of extremely handsome silver candlesticks of the
Georgian period. My subject had a stern countenance but a kind heart.
Not long after, I began to realise that my long association with
_Vanity Fair_ was about to come to an end. When Mr. Gibson Bowles
resigned his connection with the journal, in order to take an active
part in the political field which had always attracted his keenest
interest, I could not have contemplated a more delightful successor
than Mr. A. G. Witherby as my chief, for I again received every
encouragement to succeed in my work. Not only is he a very clever
caricaturist and draughtsman, but he is equally clever as a writer; in
addition to which he is a good sort and keen sportsman, and when he
decided to part with the paper it was a great blow to me. I shall ever
remember the kind hospitality I received from him and his wife during
his proprietorship of the paper.
[Illustration: PRINCESS ENA OF BATTENBERG. _Drawn at Kensington
Palace, May 1906, just previously to her marriage with the King of
Spain._]
In early days my father cautioned me against giving more than half of
my time to work for reproduction, and experience has taught me the
wisdom of the warning. I think after all he was right, and I regret
that for nearly forty years I devoted too much time to the work on
_Vanity Fair_. As a society journal it was certainly for a long period
a publication of unique interest, and I venture to prophesy that,
when the history of the Victorian Era comes to be written in true
perspective, the most faithful mirror and record of representative men
and the spirit of their times will be sought and found in _Vanity
Fair_.