THE FOUNDER OF THE "GRAPHIC."

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 292, 8 December 1900, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE FOUNDER OF THE "GRAPHIC."

A REMARKABLE CAREER

Mr William Lusion Thomas, the founder of the "Graphic," who died last week, was, though unknown to the man.in the street, a very remarkable personality. He began life on the staff of the "Illustrated London News," but finding the Ingrams, as many have done, a little difficult to work with, he broke away and raised £25,000 to start the "Graphic." This was initiated with; a staff which has probably never been surpassed for quality in England, though at that time most of them were men but little jenown, if known at all. It was Mr Thomas' genius for discovery that scented them out, Hubert ion Herkomer, R.A., Frank Holl, R.A., Luke Fields, R.A., E. J. Gregory, R.A., Henry Woods, R.A., Charles Green, W. Small, A. B. Houghton, Sir James Linton —these are sum of the draughtsmen who made the artistic reputation of the young "Graphic."

Unfortunately, despite its artistic perfections, current events received but scant attention in the "Graphic" and the public did not "catch on." Just, however, as collapse seemed inevitable, the Franco-Prussian war broke out, nnd under the able editorship of Mr Sutherland Edwards, with an excellent staff, including Edmund Yates, G. A. Sala, Edward Draper, and others, the journal became an immediate success. Alike on the sides of art and journalism Mr Thomas (says the "Daily News"; revised bold enterprises and would as readily send an artist on a roving commission as he would order pictures from Millais' at the paintei-'s own price, lor commission half the Royal £ eaoemy to paint a long series of Shakspere's heroines at an enormous cost; or for the "Daily Graphic" would dispatch Lord Randolph Churchill on a picturesque tour through South Africa. The "Graphic" had attained to an almost unprecedented success, paying, it was said, nearly 100 per cent. to its lucky shareholders, when Mr Thomas, undaunted by the knowledge that all similar attempts made in the past had utterly failed, and undeterred by lhe prophecy that a, successful daily must injure a. successful weekly, conceived the idea of launching the "Daily Graphic." ',' The birth of this journal on the tAventy-tirst anniversary of that of the "Graphic" was made the occasion of a great celebration, which was a** tended by a brilliant gathering, with the express favour of the highest in the land. Mr Thomas was warmly congratulated on having achieved so much for his shareholders. He retorted that he "hadn't given them a thought," that he had Only'aimed' at producing one of those organs of public inter - communication . which, kindly aud pure in tone, honest, and vigorous, acts as one lof the strongest and most welcome chains which help to bind together all English-speaking people in all parts of the world.