Master Willie Gladstone “really enjoying, and in some measure appreciating and understanding,” our Mr. Agnew’s lectures on Art.
Vide Times Report, Oct. 18.
Awfully pleased to meet Mr. William Agnew at Manchester. Odd coincidence of Christian names. I shall speak of him and allude to him as “The Other William.” He promised to keep by me, and show me all the pictures worth seeing.
“T’Other William,” said I, “you are very good. As you know, I take a great and sincere interest in pictures and works of Art, although I know very little about them.” T’Other William protested. “No, T’Other William, I am right. You have been the means of providing me with a commodity most difficult of all others to procure if you do not possess it yourself—that is to say, you have provided me with brains.” Further protests from T’Other One. “No, T’Other William, hear me out; for you know in all cases where a judgment has had to be passed upon works of Art, I have been accustomed to refer a great deal to you, and lean upon you, because you have been constantly the means of enabling me really to see, and really to enjoy, and in some measure to appreciate and understand, all that you have shown to me.”
I was so pleased with this little speech that I made Herbert take it down as I repeated it to him privately when T’Other was looking in another direction. When I brought it out afterwards, at luncheon in the Palm-house, it went wonderfully. So it should, because I felt every word of it. T’Other William is one of the kindest and most courteous of my friends.
I was very pleased with the Exhibition, although perhaps (I am not certain of this) I might have seen it better had not about four thousand visitors followed our little party everywhere, cheering vociferously. I was consequently obliged to keep my attention most carefully fixed upon the exhibits, as when I caught any stranger’s eye, the stranger immediately (but with an eagerness that did not exceed the limits of good behaviour) called upon me to make a speech then and there upon the subject of “Home Rule.” I am sure I should on each and every occasion have only been too delighted, had not Sir Andrew warned me not to indulge too much in that sort of thing. The crowd, however, had its decided advantage, inasmuch as we were carried off our feet everywhere. In this luxurious fashion we were wafted to Messrs. Doulton’s Pottery Manufactory, to Mr. Jesse Haworth’s loan exhibition of Egyptian antiquities, the name “Jesse” recalled to me the poor misguided Joe’s “Jesse,” the second fiddle, but toujours fidèle, and to a great many other shows of almost equal interest.
But of course the feature of the Exhibition was the collection of pictures. I was absolutely delighted. T’Other William explained everything, and amongst other portraits showed me one of myself by Millais. I imagine that everybody must have thought it very like, because when they observed me inspecting it, they cheered more vigorously than ever. For my part I can’t help feeling that Sir John might have done more with the collars. He has not (to my thinking, although I confess I may be wrong) put quite enough starch in them. This is my own idea, as I did not consult T’Other One upon the subject. Great as my reliance is upon him concerning works of Art, I reserve the right of using my own judgment in the matter of collars. Passing through the galleries I was delighted with everything I saw. The only drawback to my pleasure was the fact that I was followed (as I have already hinted) by a cheering crowd, who occasionally, and, no doubt, accidentally, drowned the voice of my kind Mentor. Under other circumstances I should have drawn the distinction between the Mentor and the Tor-mentors. Think this, but don’t say it. For instance, when we were standing in front of “Ramsgate Sands,” this is what reached my ears eager for instruction:—
“‘Ramsgate Sands,’ by Frith—(‘Hooray!’)—who, as you know, has just written—(‘Speech! Speech!’ ‘Home Rule!’ ‘Three cheers for Morley!’)—full of anecdotes of all sorts of interesting people. If you went to Ramsgate now, you would find——(‘We are going to give you another carpet, old man!’ ‘Hooray, hooray, hooray!’ ‘Three Cheers for Home Rule!—An extra one for Manchester!’)—and practically the sand-frequenters we are carefully examining in this picture are of thirty years ago. (‘Speech! Speech!’) You must know——(‘Hooray, hooray, hooray!’)”
And at this period my dear friend was silenced by our being carried away in an irresistible stream to the Palm-house, where we took part in an excellent luncheon. Here I delivered my speech, which I pride myself was first-rate. I called Manchester the Modern Athens, explaining, however, that no offence was intended to the capital of Midlothian. Take it all round, then, in spite of the “exuberant interest” shown in me by my fellow-citizens, I have had a very pleasant day, thanks chiefly to T’Other William.