TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14993, 13 June 1914, Page 10

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Confessions of a Caricaturist. "Tho moral nature of an individual is shown -uito naturally In his exterior aspect. It is easy to divine tho sentiments of a man by his gait, his attitude and his gosturo." This is the theory which underlies tho art of "Som," tho famous French caricaturist, who has explained himself and his mothods to tho readors of "Lectures Pour Tous," a popular Parisian magazine. This is how "Sem" sets out to obtain "n scrupulous, intense, and quintessential physical resemblance." Having selected his victim's face, ho proceeds to "walk round it and exploro it with every precaution," to jot down feverish sketches of ears, nose, mouth, notes in writing of tho colour, of the hair and beard, and shade of skin, etc. Thus tho mere skeleton of a picture is obtained. But there is "something much more magical which must be extracted by a .species of clairvoyance." Tho empirical details are committed to memory, absorbed into the caricaturist's brain, and discarding tho first sketches "tho liberated eye boldly wnetrates this face- in search of .realities moro profound." From hit; own description "Sem" must present an interesting a->----pearanco when hot on the scent of a potential "subject." He follows the gamo everywhere; nothing but physical force can deter him in his insl-nsate progress, ..Unconsciously he reproduces mechanically all the geetures and personal habits of his models, mimicking his own sketch in advance with arms, legs, nose, lips, and all tho wrinkles of his face. Of course, when he is sketching a handsome man this procedure is an advantage, but "Seni," like most caricaturists, specialises mainly in the erotesaue. To this he attributes his "accordion-pleated face."' But what matter? ho crtes "I have made tho sacrifice of icy beauty, and that cannot stor> mc." Such methods are not without their risks, we may be suro, and "Sem" relates with infinite gusto how. while ho was in England nrcparine his London album, ho became j fascinated at Ascot with "the incom- ' parable 'chic' " of Lord Lonsdale. and. oblivious of all else, followed him into tho Koyal enclosure until checked! b~ the heavy hand of a policeman. "Sem" had no English, the word "anarchist" was uttered, and things began to look black" for the humorist, when luckily a bi-lingual /riend, a member of the Jockey Club, came to the rescue, and further trouble was averted. The Hired Car. The London correspondent of an .Australian paper writes on the remarkablo extension of the private motor-car hir-

ln g Bjst cm in England. Cars can bo obtained for an hour, a year, or for a Period of years. Even peoplo who themselves find it expedient to hire cars on certain occasions, and kt their own remain in tho garage. This, (j especially £ho caso o.n occasions when there is likely to bo a crush °? vehicles, nnd tho owners of lux'irioa's, expensive cars are afraid of getting them damaged. Derby Day is a typical instance. Of tho thousands °f motors of all kinds which throng tho road to Epsom on that day, a., very large proportion aro undoubtedly hired. Tho owners of cars, having experience of tho Derby crush, prefor to leave them in tho garago and hiro for the day, on the understanding that *hey are to bo held responsible fa"" damage. The charge for a car on I>erby Day ranges from £2 10s to £o, according to the type and size of tho ■'ehicla. For £1, persons livinc anywhere within a radius of twenty miles of the West End can arrange to havo a private car and chauffeur call for them, take them to a theatre, then to supper at a restaurant, and homo again. Now the London Motor Garage Co., Ltd.. which owns hundreds of cars, has adopted n system of hiring out by the year, or fixed period of years. It undertakes to supply not only a car, but a chauffeur in private livery, garI agf. accommodation, and all the petrol and lubricating oil required for tho term specified. It takes out a policy against damage to the car by accident or fire, or theft of the car, or accessories. If the car breaks down some hundreds of miles away, it will send a man to repair it. and if extensive repairs are needed, the repairer will tako along nnoiher car with him for the use of the hirers. This system, it is said, is being widely adopted by visitors to England, especially by official visitors such as Ambassadors, as well as by a largo number of English peoplo who wish to escape the worries attached to tho ownership of a car. The price per annum for a luxurious car, with all the necessary accessories and services, is about £375. When the actual cost of such a car, the wages of a chauffeur, the expense involved in repairs, and. depreciation are considered, this arrangement probably proves as economical as it must be convenient.