Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 2).djvu/118

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118
The Strand Magazine.

to learn the art of war, and then he goes to India and kills thousands of natives who were only defending their own country, and at last turns his arms against the country where he first learned the art of war, and murders thousands more. A wholesale carcase butcher; that's what I call him."'


The small studio.
From a Photo. by Messrs. Elliott & Fry.

"This man was a great poet, too," continued Mr. Marks. "Sometimes when I was giving him a little rest, he would say, 'Would you like a little verse or two, sir?' I often used to humour him, and he would recite some really good verses. Here is a specimen:—

'To grin at our snug little island of fame,
The despot of France when to Calais he came,
His glass from his pocket beginning to draw,
Was struck with amaze when old England he saw.
Britannia she sat on the white rocks herself,
But she needed no spy-glass to look at that elf.
"I wonder," she said, "what that simpleton's doing."
Replied Liberty, "Sister, he's plotting your ruin."
"Is he so?" said Britannia; "then let him plot on,
I am more than a match for that desperate don.
Let him come, if he likes, I will never deceive him.
If he tries to get near, we will warmly receive him.
Let him talk as he likes; for his boasting who cares?
'Ere he gives us the skins, he must slaughter the bears."'

"A good many models are addicted to drink, and, after sitting a while, will suddenly go to sleep. Then I have had what I call the 'super' model. You know the sort of man; he goes in for theatrical effect; always has an expression of 'Ha! ha! more blood I see wanted,' and that sort of thing."


In the garden.
From a Photo. by Messrs. Elliott & Fry.

Mr. Marks then puts on his hat, and we pass through a smaller studio and glass-house, the former containing a very curious cabinet, which he painted some years ago, depicting a nursery tale, "Sing a Song of Sixpence"; and there is the king counting out his money, and the blackbird descending and pecking off the maid's nose, the Queen eating honey, the pie open before the King with the twenty-four blackbirds. This goes round the four sides of the cabinet, which is used for brushes, colours, varnishes, &c. Passing into the garden there is the pet jay, in his cage by the tree; the fountain is playing; and Tommy, the tortoise, is crawling