JKJ Drew Excellent Pencil Portraits to raise Cash for Charity

[SteffanLlwyd]

My Great Uncle had a very fine framed pencil drawing of himself in the hallway of his Barnsley semi.  It was of him as a young World War 1 officer.  It was signed by J K Jerome.  Uncle Harry explained that he'd drawn it very quickly (I think on one of London's railway stations) in return for a donation to a charity (probably connected with the War in some way).

I wish I knew the whereabouts of the drawing now.  Harry left it to his best friend, naturally enough.    But I can vouch for the fact that it was to a high professional standard... and in no sense 'amateurish'.

Is it known that JKJ had this skill and used it to raise funds?  Given that he drew fast for passing trade, there must be many more similar portraits.....  An exhibition of them one day, maybe?

[HAB]

There is a good chance the charity he was raising funds for was the National Equine Defence League, which was founded in 1909 to campaign for legislation to protect pit ponies. JKJ chaired the first meeting, and was actively involved in the League's work. This expanded into general horse welfare, and the League petitioned the War Office to bring back conscripted army horses instead of selling them off to the highest bidder in France or Egypt. Many of the horse owners had willingly given up their animals to the war effort, but had been given to understand they would get them back when the army no longer required them. This didn't happen, and the animals were sold wherever they happened to be when they became surplus. They went on to become butcher meat, or were worked to death - not much thanks for the hell they had already endured.

JKJ's involvment with the League had its roots in his family background. As the son of a former pit owner, he was well aware of the dire conditions that the ponies endured. In 1911, the Coal Mines (Regulations) Act was passed, and through the efforts of the League, this included some key legislation which meant that pit ponies could no longer be worked for 20 hours out of 24, or be abused or beaten to death. The Act included provision for the employment of Governmet Inpectors to ensure the rules were inforced. Unfortunately, the then Home Secretary the Rt. (dis)honorable Reginld McKenna KC did not support the act, and through what JKJ described as "a dirty trick" watered down the impact of the Act by delaying the appointment of the Inspectors, and anouncing that there would be just 6 to cover the whole country. This prompted him to write a letter to the press on behalf of the League, starting "Sir - May I, as a matter of some public interest, explain why I have come to regard the Rt. Honorable Reginld McKenna, K.,C with hatred and contempt."

JKJ remained actively involved in the League, supporting campaigns and bringing the plight of abused horses into the public eye. It is a pity that this aspect of his work is not better known today. His contribution was marked during the League's recent Centenary celebrations.