Naughty Max

Edward Windsor, Prince of Wales, as an old man marrying his landlady's daughter..

Edward VII as an adipose angel complete with lyre or as the fat-man wonder at a circus.

These are some of the cartoons drawn by that dilettante, Max Beerbohm.

These pictures were exhibited at the Leicester Galleries in London and caused a great deal of adverse criticism and a minimum of praise. Even the ultra-radical journal, The Daily Herald, while stressing the significance of the Prince of Wales as Edward Windsor, does not hesitate to imply that it opposes attacking the Royal Family. While such obscenities are not unknown, they are particularly rare. Britishers have had good cause to admire and look up to the present Royal House, not only as a great democratic and patriotic family, but as the living symbol that binds the world-flung empire so securely. Serious minded people have read an affront to the Royal Family and the empire into the cartoons of Max. It is undeniable that the artist stamps himself a plain boor for choosing such subjects, but, on the other hand, it is equally undeniable that Beerbohm intended no slight. He says in a letter to the Secretary of the Galleries : ". . . if the public is likely to read any shadow of seriousness into them, and accordingly regard them as unkind or disloyal, I think it will be well to avoid this misunderstanding by removing them."

Sir Gerald du Maurier, celebrated actor, thought the cartoon on the Prince was a great and harmless joke. He bought it for $40 and says he did not want it to get into the wrong hands and that he will not sell it to anyone in the world except the Prince of Wales. ". . . one day," he added, "it will be found hanging in the nursery of King Edward VIII at Windsor Castle."

Max Beerbohm is nearly 51 years of age. Educated at Charterhouse and Merton College, Oxford, he has since dabbled with the fine arts and literature. A great lover of Italy, he spends much of his time at his villa (Villino Chiaro) at Rapallo.