as your Comic Artist might in Truth exist in the Flesh, being contrary to that proper Orderliness of Things that Nature is ever for observing in her Works.
I had indeed observed at Times a certain perverse Kind of Illustrations that kept Company with Words of a Sort of problematical Humour and inconsiderable Trifling; yet I had been of a Persuasion that this Kind of Art was but an unintentional Lapse of the Draughtsman from the correct Delineation that he would be making.
"And rapped upon a grimy door."
Judge then of my Surprise when my Acquaintance solemnly assured me that he did but speak in very Seriousness, and that we should presently stand in the Presence of the Creature above-mentioned; at which I made much Haste to tuck up the Skirts of my Coat and to prepare myself how best I might for this Encounter; "for," thought I, "if this be truly no actual strange Beast like to set upon us savagely, yet at the least it must be some Outcast which it were well not to touch!"
We now mounted several Flights of creaky Stairs and rapped upon a grimy Door, whereat I had like to turn Tail and run away, had not my Friend detained me; and, the Door being at this Time thrown open, I was for the Moment reassured at perceiving within no more terrible Being than a Person of most ordinary Aspect; and, on my asking with some Trepidation at what Moment we might look for the Comic Artist, I was told that this was he; whereon I was mightily comforted.
I was now plunged in a great Amazement by my Reflections, among these being how this curious Creature should possess the Means of a Subsistence, seeing that as it was not to be lightly credited that any should pay him Wages for his Trick of Buffoonery, neither was it to be expected that he should be of an Aspect like to an ordinary Person, nor eat the same Food; while here he was smoking a Pipe, and that in so ordinary a Manner that none might distinguish him from a Human Being!
"One of the most promising infants."
"I would have you know," said he, "that I am possessed by a most huge Desire for the Advancement and Improving of the great Art of which I am an unworthy Practiser; insomuch that, to this End, I have matured a most notable Scheme for an Academy of Comic Art, which I do not" (he added modestly) "propose shall take Precedence over our present Royal Academy, but shall work Side by Side with it upon a Basis of Equality. Among the chiefest Elements of my Academy" (he continued) "there should be a Comic Art Training School (being an Institution which I have touched upon in a recent Article upon this Subject). You must know that this School would be for the right Training as well of the Public, as also of the Artists and their Models, to the End that each Class might be fitted for the nice Conduct and Understanding of this great Art.
"Let us consider, then, the Department for the supply of Comic Models, seeing these are a Thing most urgently needed yet by no means to be obtained at this Time; for Models are now, by reason of long Neglect, got into a Way of possessing serious and
