Evening star., 1923-06-24
ny FREDERICK CUNLIFFE-owEN.
G.. IL. Il.

nlbE the tIcHu VI lhc poP-
AN/ ular mind throughout the
" world, even in oriental
countries. is in the direc-
tion of democracy, and tends to the
obliteration of those old-fashioned
notions, according to which kings and
emperors were made of other than
human clay--in these days, indeed,
when monarchs avowedly occupy
their thrones by the will of their
people rather than by right divine
1t seems paradoXical that the public
should show far greater disposition
than of ycre to resent shafts of
ridicule. especially of pictorial ridi-
cule, aimed at the anointed of the
Lord.
Indeed, there are few things more
surprising than the food OF savage
abuse with which Max Beerbohm has
been overwhelmed in England, in
connection with his. recent caricatures
of the members of the reigning house
of England, included in the exhibition
of his extremely amusing and charac-
teristic works at the Leicester Gal
leries in London, and which he was
compelled to withdraw from public
view in Difference to almost univer-
sal outcry.
In olden times. that is to say, in
the seventeenth century. and even in
the eighteenth. Max Beerbohm, whose
cartoons convey the impression of
the Ariel-like mischievousness, rather
than malignity. would undoubtedly
have led to his being deprived by the
public eXecutioner of his ears, and
possibly of his nose. Indeed, such
punishmentS were still in vogue in
the reign of Charles II. who, while
fond nnSSaSSa6
keenest sense of humor, did not hesi-
tate to discourage in this fashion
cartoonists and scribes from 'pok-
ing their noses" into his business.
Max's caricatures would have
aroused no condemnation. and would
have been treated as a subject of
merriment, whereas now they have
provoked the anger of the public. He
is charged. with gross disrespect.
with "abominable vulgarity," with
.execrable taste" and "a complete
misunderstanding of popular senti-
ment.'
Royalty has shown so little dis
position to defend itself from pic
torial jibes and satire. that the peo-
pie in England. at any rate, seem to
Rave considered il incumbent upon
themselves to take up the cudgels in
its behalf, and we actually find the
most advanced organs of the English
labor press. which clamors for the
abolition of monarchy. holding Max
Beerbohm up to obloQuy. on the
score of bad form" of gross vio-
1ation of good manners, and above
all OF "unsportsmanlike conduct"
Indeed. poor Max has received such
a lesson that it is doubtful whether
he will ever risk offending the pub
lie in like fashion again. and the
vogue which he has hitherto enjoyed
In Eng" nd is temporarily clouded to
such a degree that he has hastened
to retire once more to his. retreat in
Italy, in order to avoid unpleasant
rencontres. and the cutting by former
friends and acquaintances.
the royal families of England and on
the continent. or the great ones in
other countries of the world really
resent caricatures. The members of
the reigning house of England can
not but feel touched by the readiness
shown by their countrymen Of every
class to protect them from this form
of lampooning. But do they really
themselves, object to it? AS far as
the great ones of the earth. who have
not been born on the stems of
throne are concerned, they relish carl
catures, no matter how much these
may be at their expense. For they
show them that they are still in the
public eye. that they retain the in
and a place I'm the limelight of the
stage This is so well known that it
is hardly worth while to eXpatlate
on the matter here. Great statesmen
and footlight favorites. are consumed
with one dread. namely, that of be-
ing forgotten.
X *-*
But less is known of the senti-
ments of monarchs and other royal
personages with regard to pictorial
fun poked at their expense. Do they
resent it? l propose to show in the
following brief notes. that this is
very far from being the case. Queen
Victoria, despite the misleading i'm
preston of austerity conveyed by
most of her pictures. had keen
sense of humor, and enjoyed nothing
so much as laugh. Indeed, her
laughter, even in her old age. was
frequent. silvery and infectious. She
was an inveterate reader of the comic
papers and the caricatures of which
she was most fond were those of
political nature, especially those re-
lating to herself. to her relatives at
home and abroad and to her consti-
aroused in her sense of merriment.
But there were sometimes cartoons.
which she took to heart as salu-
tary lesson, which could not have
reached her through any other
means. Thus. it may be remembered.
that during the early years of her
widowhood, namely, from 1852 until
near 1870. she gave herself up al
most unreservedly to her overwhelm-
ing grief. declined to show herself
in public, refused to hold court func-
tions, or to preside at such time
honored ceremonies as the opening
of parliament. etc. until she was
becoming a mere memory to her peo-
ple. her ministers and even her chill
dren meeting with complete failure
In their attempts to rouse her from
her sorrow.
Suddenly there appeared wonder
full cartoon in a London comic paper,
now defunct. known as the Toma-