plied on the back of the letter sent
him. At least, it was so in Mr. Furniss's case. He would send sketches
to _Punch_; they were acknowledged as "unsuitable." They invariably
turned up a week or so later--the idea re-drawn by a member of the
staff! He began to despair. But that first cartoon in the schoolboy's
periodical was always before him.

"When Mr. Burnand became editor," continued Mr. Furniss, "I was working
on the _Illustrated London News_. He saw one of the sketches and asked
me to call--the result was that I have worked for them ever since. I
started at very small things; my first was a small drawing of Temple
Bar. Then, when Parliament opened, Mr. H. W. Lucy commenced
_Toby_--by-the-bye, Lucy and I both joined the _Punch_ table, the weekly
dinner, together--and I worked with him. I have special permission at
the House; as a matter of fact, I have the sanction of the Lord Great
Chamberlain to sketch anywhere in the precincts of Westminster. My right
there is an individual one."

"But supposing, Mr. Furniss," I said, "they put a stop to you and your
pencil entering?"

"I'd go into Parliament!" came the ready reply. And, indeed, he has been
approached on this subject by constituencies two or three times.

We spoke of some of the eminent statesmen and others Mr. Furniss has
caricatured. Mr. John Morley is the most difficult. He is not what an
artist would call a black and white man. You must suggest the familiar
red tie in your picture and then you have "caught" him.

[Illustration: THE FURNISS FAMILY. _From a Photo. by Elliott & Fry._]

"I have seen Mr. Morley look a boy, a young man, and an old man--and all
in an hour," said Mr. Furniss. "Mr. Asquith is difficult, too. But I
don't think I have ever missed him, as there's a Penley look about his
face and a decided low comedian's mouth that help you immensely. Sir
Richard Temple is the easiest. Many members have some characteristic
action which assists you materially. For instance, Mr. Joseph Arch
always wipes his hands down his coat before shaking hands with you,
whilst Mr. Goschen delights to play with his eye-glass when speaking.
Lord Randolph Churchill likes to indulge in a little acrobatic exercise
and balance himself on one foot, whilst Mr. Balfour hangs on
persistently to the lapel of his coat when talking. All these little
things help to 'mark' the man for the caricaturist. I invented
Gladstone's collar and made Churchill small. Not because he is s