Baden-Powell ('Mafeking')

Leslie Ward ('Spy') here signs himself 'Drawl'—an anagram he occasionally used. The plate shows Robert Baden-Powell in khaki field dress: slouch hat, Sam Browne belt, cavalry sword at his hip, arms folded with proprietary calm. The caption 'Mafeking' needs no gloss for an 1900 readership: Baden-Powell had just survived a 217-day Boer siege, and his relief triggered street celebrations across Britain. Ward's caricature emphasizes the man's composure—long jaw, clipped moustache, boots polished despite everything. The figure is flattering rather than savage, reflecting the mood: Baden-Powell was a national hero, not yet a target for satire.