The Confessions of a Caricaturist, Vol. 1

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Title: The Confessions of a Caricaturist, Vol. 1

Author: Harry Furniss

Release date: July 16, 2009 [eBook #29425]

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Marius Borror and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CONFESSIONS OF A CARICATURIST, VOL. 1 ***

Transcriber's note:

A few typographical errors have been corrected. They appear in the text like this, and the explanation will appear when the mouse pointer is moved over the marked passage. Original page numbers are displayed in the margin as: Pg xxx.

MY CARICATURE OF MR. GLADSTONE.

THE CONFESSIONS OF A CARICATURIST

BY

HARRY FURNISS

ILLUSTRATED

VOLUME I

NEW YORK AND LONDON:
HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS.
1902.

BRADBURY, AGNEW, & CO. LD., PRINTERS,
LONDON AND TONBRIDGE.

[All rights reserved.]
December, 1901.

PREFACE.

If, in these volumes, I have made some joke at a friend's expense, let that friend take it in the spirit intended, and—I apologise beforehand.

In America apology in journalism is unknown. The exception is the well-known story of the man whose death was published in the obituary column. He rushed into the office of the paper and cried out to the editor:

"Look here, sur, what do you mean by this? You have published two columns and a half of my obituary, and here I am as large as life!"

The editor looked up and coolly said, "Sur, I am vury sorry, I reckon there is a mistake some place, but it kean't be helped. You are killed by the Jersey Eagle, you are to the world buried. We nevur correct anything, and we nevur apologise in Amurrican papers."

"That won't do for me, sur. My wife's in tears; my friends are laughing at me; my business will be ruined,—you must apologise."

"No, si—ree, an Amurrican editor nevur apologises."

"Well, sur, I'll take the law on you right away. I'm off to my attorney."

"Wait one minute, sur—just one minute. You are a re-nowned and popular citizen: the Jersey Eagle has killed you—for that I am vury, vury sorry, and to show you my respect I will to-morrow find room for you—in the births column."

Now do not let any editor imagine these pages are my professional obituary,—my autobiography. If by mistake he does, then let him place me immediately in their births column. I am in my forties, and there is quite time for me to prepare and publish two more volumes of my "Confessions" from my first to my second birth, and many other things, before I am fifty.

London, 1901.

[The Author begs to acknowledge his indebtedness to the Proprietors and the Editor of Punch, the Proprietors of the Magazine of Art, the Graphic, the Illustrated London News, English Illustrated Magazine, Cornhill Magazine, Harper's Magazine, Westminster Gazette, St. James' Gazette, the British Weekly and the Sporting Times for their kindness in allowing him to reproduce extracts and pictures in these volumes.]

CONTENTS.

	Page
CHAPTER I. CONFESSIONS OF MY CHILDHOOD—AND AFTER.
Introductory—Birth and Parentage—The Cause of my remaining a Caricaturist—The Schoolboys' Punch—Infant Prodigies—As a Student—I Start in Life—Zozimus—The Sullivan Brothers—Pigott—The Forger—The Irish "Pathriot"—Wood Engraving—Tom Taylor—The Wild West—Judy—Behind the Scenes—Titiens—My First and Last Appearance in a Play—My Journey to London—My Companion—A Coincidence	pp. 1—29
CHAPTER II. BOHEMIAN CONFESSIONS.
I arrive in London—A Rogue and Vagabond—Two Ladies—Letters of Introduction—Bohemia—A Distinguished Member—My Double—A Rara Avis—The Duke of Broadacres—The Savages—A Souvenir—Portraits of the Past—J. L. Toole—Art and Artists—Sir Spencer Wells—John Pettie—Milton's Garden	pp. 30—53
CHAPTER III. MY CONFESSIONS AS A SPECIAL ARTIST.
The Light Brigade—Miss Thompson (Lady Butler)—Slumming—The Boat Race—Realism—A Phantasmagoria—Orlando and the Caitiff—Fancy Dress Balls—Lewis Wingfield—Cinderella—A Model—All Night Sitting—An Impromptu Easel—"Where there's a Will there's a Way"—The American Sunday Papers—I am Deaf—The Grill—The World's Fair—Exaggeration—Personally Conducted—The Charnel House—10, Downing Street—I attend a Cabinet Council—An Illustration by Mr. Labouchere—The Great Lincolnshire Trial—Praying without Prejudice	pp. 54—87
CHAPTER IV. THE CONFESSIONS OF AN ILLUSTRATOR—A SERIOUS CHAPTER.
Drawing—"Hieroglyphics"—Clerical Portraiture—A Commission from General Booth—In Search of Truth—Sir Walter Besant—James Payn—Why Theodore Hook was Melancholy—"Off with his Head"—Reformers' Tree—Happy Thoughts—Christmas Story—Lewis Carroll—The Rev. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson—Sir John Tenniel—The Challenge—Seven Years' Labour—A Puzzle MS.—Dodgson on Dress—Carroll on Drawing—Sylvie and Bruno—A Composite Picture—My Real Models—I am very Eccentric—My "Romps"—A Letter from du Maurier—Caldecott—Tableaux—Fine Feathers—Models—Fred Barnard—The Haystack—A Wicket Keeper—A Fair Sitter—Neighbours—The Post Office Jumble—Puzzling the Postmen—Writing Backwards—A Coincidence	pp. 88—130
CHAPTER V. A CHAT BETWEEN MY PEN AND PENCIL.
What is Caricature?—Interviewing—Catching Caricatures—Pellegrini—The "Ha! Ha!"—Black and White v. Paint—How to make a Caricature—M.P.'s—My System—Mr. Labouchere's Attitude—Do the Subjects Object?—Colour in Caricature—Caught!—A Pocket Caricature—The Danger of the Shirt-cuff—The Danger of a Marble Table—Quick Change—Advice to those about to Caricature	pp. 131—153
CHAPTER VI. PARLIAMENTARY CONFESSIONS.
Gladstone and Disraeli—A Contrast—An unauthenticated Incident—Lord Beaconsfield's last Visit to the House of Commons—My Serious Sketch—Historical—Mr. Gladstone—His Portraits—What he thought of the Artists—Sir J. E. Millais—Frank Holl—The Despatch Boxes—Impressions—Disraeli—Dan O'Connell—Procedure—American Wit—Toys—Wine—Pressure—Sandwich Soirée—The G.O.M. dines with "Toby, M.P."—Walking—Quivering—My Desk—An Interview—Political Caricaturists—Signature in Sycamore—Scenes in the Commons—Joseph Gillis Biggar—My Double—Scenes—Divisions—Puck—Sir R. Temple—Charles Stewart Parnell—A Study—Quick Changes—His Fall—Room 15—The last Time I saw him—Lord Randolph Churchill—His Youth—His Height—His Fickleness—His Hair—His Health—His Fall—Lord Iddesleigh—Sir Stafford and Mr. Gladstone—Bradlaugh—His Youth—His Parents—His Tactics—His Fight—His Extinction—John Bright—Jacob Bright—Sir Isaac Holden—Lord Derby—A Political Prophecy—A Lucky Guess—My Confession in the Times—The Joke that Failed—The Seer—Fair Play—I deny being a Conservative—I am Encouraged—Chaff—Reprimanded—Misprinted—Misunderstood	pp. 154—214
CHAPTER VII. "PUNCH."
Two Punch Editors—Punch's Hump—My First Punch Dinner—Charles Keene—"Robert"—W. H. Bradbury—du Maurier—"Kiki"—A Trip to the Place of his Birth—He Hates Me—A Practical Joke—du Maurier's Strange Model—No Sportsman—Tea—Appollinaris—My First Contribution—My Record—Parliament—Press Gallery Official—I Feel Small—The "Black Beetle"—Professor Rogers—Sergeant-at-Arms' Room—Styles of Work—Privileges—Dr. Percy—I Sit in the Table—The Villain of Art—The New Cabinet—Criticism—Punch's Historical Cartoons—Darwen MacNeill—Scenes in the Lobby—A Technical Assault—John Burns's "Invention"—John Burns's Promise—John Burns's Insult—The Lay of Swift MacNeill—The Truth—Sir Frank Lockwood—"Grand Cross"—Lockwood's Little Sketch—Lockwood's Little Joke in the House—Lockwood's Little Joke at Dinner—Lewis Carroll and Punch—Gladstone's Head—Sir William's Portrait—Ciphers—Reversion—Punch at Play—Three Punch Men in a Boat—Squaring up—Two Pins Club—Its One Joke—Its One Horse—Its Mystery—Artistic Duties—Lord Russell—Furious Riding—Before the Beak—Burnand and I in the Saddle—Caricaturing Pictures for Punch—Art under Glass—Arthur Cecil—My Other Eye—The Ridicule that Kills—Red Tape—Punch in Prison—I make a Mess of it—Waterproof—"I used your Soap two years ago"—Charles Keene—Charles Barber—Punch's Advice—Punch's Wives	pp. 215—302

HARRY FURNISS'S (EGYPTIAN STYLE). From "Punch."

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

	PAGE
My Caricature of Mr. Gladstone	Frontispiece.
Initial "In." Writing my Confessions. A Visitor's Snapshot	1
My Mother	3
My Father	5
Harry Furniss, aged 10	6
A Caricature, made when a Boy (never published). Dublin Exhibition.
Portrait of Sir A. Guinness (now Lord Iveagh) in centre	11
An Early Illustration on Wood by Harry Furniss. Partly Engraved by him.	16
Sketches in Galway	19
"Judy," the Galway Dwarf	23
Phelps, the first Actor I saw	24
Mrs. Hardcastle. Mr. Harry Furniss. From an Early Sketch	25
Caricature of Myself, drawn when I first arrived in London	30
Age 20	35
A successful "Make-Up"	36
Two Travellers	38
The Duke of "Broadacres"	40
Savage Club House Dinner. From a Sketch by Herbert Johnson	41
The Earl of Dunraven as a Savage	42
"Another Gap in Our Ranks"	43
"Jope"	43
H. J. Byron	44
A Presentation	45
Savage Club. My Design for the Menu, 25th Anniversary Dinner	47
"Savages"	50
Letter from Sir Spencer Wells	51
Distress in the Black Country	54
At the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race	55
As Special at the Balaclava Celebration	57
Distress in the North	59
Realism!	61
"The Caitiff" and Orlando	62
An Invitation	63
At a Fancy Dress Ball	65
Lewis Wingfield as a Street Nigger Home from the Derby	67
"The Liberal Candidate"	68
Sketches at the Liverpool Election: A Ward Meeting	69
My Easel. Drawing Mr. Gladstone at a Public Meeting	71
The American Sunday Papers	72
Major Handy	74
The World's Fair, Chicago. A "Special's" Visit	75
"On dashed the Horses in their wild Career"	77
Initial "A"	79
The Charnel-House. Chicago World's Fair	80
Initial "London"	83
The Bishop of Lincoln's Trial	85
Initial "If"	88
Majuba Hill	89
Canon Liddon. A Sketch from Life	92
Letter from Sir Walter Besant	94
The Late Sir Walter Besant	95
The "Jetty"	95
Illustration for "The Talk of the Town"	96
"That's just what I have done!"	98
Specimen of James Payn's Writing	99
The Typical Lovers in Illustrated Novels	100
Initial "T"	101
Instructions in a Letter from Lewis Carroll	103
Specimen of Lewis Carroll's Drawing and Writing	106
Original Sketch by Lewis Carroll of his Charming Hero and Heroine	107
Lewis Carroll's Note to me or a Pathetic Picture	108
Sylvie and Bruno. My Original Drawing for Lewis Carroll	110
I Go Mad!	111
From Lewis Carroll	112
"I do want a Wicket-keeper!"	113
Portion of Letter from Lawrence, age 9	114
Reduction from a Design for my "Romps"	115
Portion of a Letter from George du Maurier	117
A Transformation	119
"Yours always, Barnard"	119
Barnard and the Models	120
"I sit for 'Ands, Sir"	121
The Grand Old Hand and the Young 'Un	122
My Fighting Double	124
Specimen of Mr. Linley Sambourne's Envelopes to me	125
Cheque for 5½d. passed through two Banks and paid. I signed it
backwards, and it was cancelled by Clerk backwards	127
Sir Henry Irving writes his Name backwards	128
Sir Henry Irving's Attempt	128
Mr. J. L. Toole's first Attempt	128
Mr. J. L. Toole's second Attempt	128
Autograph: Harry Furniss	129
Initial "If"	131
The Studio of a Caricaturist	132
Caricature of me by my Daughter, age 15	134
A serious Portrait—from Life	135
Initial "H"	136
"Penguin"	139
Mr. Brown, Ordinary Attire. Court Dress	139
Two Portraits	140
A Caricature	140
Not a Caricature	140
The Editor of Punch sits for his Portrait	144
A Model unawares and the Result	145
Sketch on a Shirt-Cuff	146
"Mundella"	147
Mr. Labouchere	149
The M.P. Real and Ideal	150
The Photo. As he really is	151
"Dizzy" (Beaconsfield) and Gladstone	154
The Inner Lobby of the House of Commons	156
Explanation to Illustration on page 156	157
Lord Beaconsfield. A Sketch from Life	158
The last Visit of Lord Beaconsfield to the House	161
Mr. Gladstone. A Sketch from Life	163
Mr. Gladstone "under his Flow of Eloquence"	165
Mr. Gladstone. Conventional Portrait	167
Caricature of the Holl Portrait	169
Note of Mr. Gladstone made in the Press Gallery with the wrong
end of a Quill Pen	171
Invitation to a "Sandwich Soirée"	173
Mr. Gladstone sits on the Floor	174
The Fragment of Punch Mr. Gladstone did not see	175
The Gladstone Matchbox	176
Mr. Gladstone's Collars	178
Parnell	179
To Room 15	182
Outside Room 15	183
Outside my Room	185
"The G.O.M." and "Randy"	185
Mr. Louis Jennings	186
Lord Randolph and Louis Jennings	188
Lord Randolph Churchill	189
Behind the Speaker's Chair	190
Initial "S"	191
Initial "H"	193
Bradlaugh Triumphant. From "Punch"	194
Charles Bradlaugh	195
The Meet at St. Stephen's	197
Sir George Campbell	199
Heraldic Design illustrating Mr. Plunkett's (now Lord Rathmore) Joke	201
Mr. Farmer Atkinson	202
I must Introduce you to Lucy. Here he is	203
Joseph Gillis Biggar	204
Initial "I"	206
The House of Commons from Toby's Private Box	208
The Government Bench—before Home Rule	211
Reduction of one of my Parliamentary Pages in Punch	214
Initial "T"	215
Age 26, when I first worked for Punch	216
My first Meeting with the Editor of Punch	217
My first Invitation from Punch	218
A Letter from Charles Keene, objecting to an Editor interviewing him	219
"Robert"	220
George du Maurier	221
Suggestion by du Maurier for Punch Cartoon	224
Du Maurier's Souvenir de Fontainebleau. From "Punch"	225
Punch Staff returning from Paris	227
Japanese Style	229
"Birch—His Mark"	231
Chinese Style. From a Drawing on Wood	232
Familiar Faces	234
An Official in the Press Gallery	235
"He spies me"	236
"What are you?"	236
"Blowed if the Country wants you"	238
"I feel smaller!"	241
The Black Beetle	242
The Sergeant-at-Arms' Room	243
Capt. Gosset, late Sergeant-at-Arms	244
My "Childish" Style in Punch	245
A simple Document	246
I Sketch the House	247
Dr. Percy. "The House Up"	250
Mr. Punch's Puzzle-Headed People. Mr. Goschen	251
Mr. Punch's Puzzle-Headed People. "All Harcourts"	252
The New Cabinet	255
Reduction of Page in Punch, showing that my Caricatures were—in this
case—published too large	258
Reduction from the Original Drawing, showing that I gave Instructions for the Caricature to be
"reduced as usual"	259
What really happened	261
Dr. Tanner	262
Assault on me in the House. What the Press described	263
John Burns	265
Note from Sir Frank Lockwood, after reading the Bogus Account of the "Assault"	266
Letter supposed to come from Lord Cross. (Lockwood's Joke)	267
Sir F. Lockwood	269
Lewis Carroll's Suggestion, and my sketch of it in Punch	270
Nature's Puzzle Portrait	271
Initial "W"	272
"Three Oarsmen under a Tree"	273
Lord Russell's Acceptance to dine with me	275
"It's your Turn next"	277
Letter from Sir Frank Lockwood	277
Mr. Linley Sambourne	278
Portrait of me as a Member of the Two Pins Club, by Linley Sambourne	279
The late Lord Russell, the President of the Two Pins Club	280
"Furious Riding." Sketch by F. C. Gould	282
My Portrait, by F. C. Burnand	285
Mr. Punch "doing" the Picture Shows	286
The Picture Shows. Design from Punch	288
"The World-Renowned and Talented Barnardo Family"	289
The Great Baccarat Case. My Sketch in Pencil made in Court, and
Congratulatory Note from the Editor of Punch	291
Letter from Professor Herkomer	293
A Prisoner	294
"Good Advertisement." Original Idea as sent to me	297
Ditto. My Drawing of it in Punch	297
"English Waterproof Ink"	299
I sit for John Brown	300
A Crib by an American Advertiser	301
Finis	302