Parsons of different creeds and denominations have been represented in
_Vanity Fair_ from time to time--Anglicans, Romans, Wesleyans,
Congregationalists and others. My method with a clerical subject is to
go to his church and watch him in the pulpit, but it is not always
easy to catch a Bishop, because he has not, so to speak, a home of his
own. I remember making an excursion to St. Botolph's to study the
Bishop of Kensington, only to find he was not preaching there that day
but at St. George's, Camden Hill. Back west I went and after the
sermon I waited outside the vestry door. Presently the Bishop came
out, bag in hand, and walked down the hill. I hastened on ahead with
the intention of doubling back and securing a good near view, but he
turned into the Tube Station. I followed and secured a seat opposite
him, and made the mental notes which resulted in the cartoon which was
published very shortly afterwards in _Vanity Fair_.
Now and again I have been put to considerable trouble in stalking my
man. I remember particularly well the peculiar circumstances under
which I studied Dean Wellesley of Windsor, who was rather an eccentric
looking old gentleman. I was staying at Windsor, in the Winchester
Tower, with some friends who were officially connected with the
Castle, and I learned that my best chance of seeing the Dean would be
in the early morning when he was in the habit of taking a
constitutional around the Round Tower about 7.30 a.m. I welcomed the
opportunity, rose early and went out. The Dean was already on the
scene pacing to and fro in the snow, supporting himself by an umbrella
in one hand and a walking-stick in the other. I did not follow him in
an obtrusive manner, but after pacing round two or three times, I must
have attracted his attention, for I feel sure he had never seen any
other individual taking such an odd constitutional at that hour. But
of course he could not suspect my object. As he walked, I looked at
him carefully, and especially observed his hat which, I had been
informed, would be turned down according to the direction of the wind.
On this occasion, it was turned up in front, although I am sure that
in walking round the Tower he must have been kept busy on such a cold
and windy morning. In due time the caricature (which I always regard
as one of my best) was published. Through the medium of my father, who
was a very old friend of the Dean, I heard that he was very annoyed at
the caricature.
Some time after, I was walking with my father in the High Street at
Windsor when we met _the Dean_!
"Let me introduce my son," said my father. "He is the culprit and is
responsible for your caricature in _Vanity Fair_."
"Oh indeed," said the Dean. "I'm very pleased to make his
acquaintance--I shouldn't have been, had any one recognized the
caricature as myself!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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