CHAPTER VI.

JOHN LEECH AND THE ETON BOY.

I had been told that a friend whose acquaintance I made many years ago was in possession of some correspondence with Leech of considerable interest. I wrote to him on the subject, and received the following reply:

"DEAR MR. FRITH,

"I had intended waiting till my return to town to see whether I could find John Leech's letters before writing to you; but as you ask for the story, here it is, to the best of my recollection, and it is heartily at your service. When I was a boy at Eton I sent to _Punch_ an incident which happened at a dance. Young Oxford complaining to his partner of the dearth of 'female society' at the University, she retorts, 'What a pity you didn't go to a girls' school instead!' Its appearance beneath an illustration of Leech's caused great excitement in our house at Eton, and as great tales of Mr. Punch's liberality were current--as, for example, that the sender of the advice 'To persons about to marry--_don't_,' had received L100--I began to look anxiously for some tip for my contribution. An enterprising pal said, 'It's a beastly shame; and if you'll go halves, I'll write to _Punch_ and wake 'em up.' This speedily resulted in the receipt of a post-office order for two guineas from John Leech, accompanied by a rather dry note, to the effect that Mr. Punch considered that he had already done enough in providing an original illustration to my joke. I was indignant, and wrote back to Leech returning the money, but he would not hear of this. He told me I could buy gloves with the money for the young lady if I liked--which I am afraid I didn't. Several kind letters from him followed, with an invitation, gladly accepted, to call and see him in the holidays, and a present, which I still treasure, of two volumes of his 'Life and Character.'

"At the time I remember my schoolfellows considered me a born caricaturist, an opinion I naturally shared. Leech was most indulgent to my early efforts--gave me some wood-blocks to work upon, and encouraged me to persevere, which, alas! I have not done, etc.

"Yours truly."

Here follows Leech's "dry note":

"32, Brunswick Square, London, "June 6, 1859.

"DEAR SIR,

"The editor of _Punch_ is the person who should be addressed upon all money matters connected with that periodical. However, in the present instance, perhaps it will answer every purpose if I adopt the suggestion of your 'great _friend_ and _confidant_,' and '_do the handsome_ and send a _tip direct_,' which I do in the shape of a post-office order for one guinea; or, as your 'entirely _disinterested_' young friend is to have half of what you get, it will be even better if I make the order for two guineas instead, as I do, only you must not look upon this as a precedent. I am afraid Mr. Punch would have considered that the trouble and expense he was at to have an original design made to your few lines would have been ample recompense. In future send to the editor your notion of what you expect for any contribution, and he will accept or reject accordingly, I dare say.

"Yours faithfully, "JOHN LEECH."

The Eton boy was "indignant, and wrote back to Leech returning the money," to which Leech replied as follows:

"32, Brunswick Square, "November 8, 1859.

"DEAR SIR,

"No, no; it must be as it is; besides, the order is made out in your name, and can be used by no one else. After all, your contribution was very amusing, and pray consider yourself as quite entitled to the sum offered. If you have any doubt as to how you should spend the money, why, then, buy some gloves for the young lady who said the smart thing to the Oxford man. As to my being offended, dismiss the notion from your mind at once. Your first note I consider perfectly good-natured, and your second as frank and gentleman-like. I hope you will do me the favour to accept two volumes of my sketches, in which I hope you will find some amusement.

"I will direct the volumes to be sent to you this afternoon.

"Believe me, dear sir, "Yours faithfully, "JOHN LEECH."

Encouraged by Leech's kindness, and being, as he says, "a born caricaturist in the opinion of his friends," the Eton boy sent some sketches for Leech's opinion. To this application he received the following reply:

"32, Brunswick Square, "June 11, 1859.

"MY DEAR SIR,

"I am very busy, so you must excuse a rather short note. Your sketches I have looked at carefully, however, and I have no hesitation in saying that they show a great perception of humour on your part. They seem to me to be altogether very good; and I have no doubt that with practice you might make your talent available in _Punch_ and elsewhere. I don't know about your taking lessons, except from Nature, and learn from her as much as possible. Try your hand at some initial letters--if drawn on the wood clearly, so much the better--and I will, with great pleasure, hand them to the editor of _Punch_. 'The Pleasures of Eton' is capital; the style, I take it, founded a little upon Doyle's works. I would not do that too much. You have quite cleverness enough to strike out a path of your own, and with my best wishes for your success,

"Believe me, "Yours faithfully, "JOHN LEECH."

In sending these letters the Eton boy of old says he is "sure that nothing would more thoroughly exemplify Leech's genial wit and courteous kindliness than these replies to an unknown schoolboy." I suppose the letter in which my friend was invited to call upon Leech "in the holidays" is not to be found. But that he did call and received a present of "wood-blocks to work upon," accompanied by "encouragement to persevere," which, alas! he has not done, we have from himself.

This incident is especially delightful, as it reflects perfectly the quality of heart and mind so characteristic of Leech.