There are others again, who will draw a man's character from no other helps in the world, but merely from his evacuations; --but this often gives a very incorrect outline, --unless, indeed, you take a sketch of his repletions too; and by correcting one drawing from the other, compound one good figure out of them both.
I should have no objection to this method, but that I think it must smell too strong of the lamp, --and be render'd still more operose, by forcing you to have an eye to the rest of his _Non-naturals_. ----Why the most natural actions of a man's life should be called his Non-naturals, --is another question.
There are others, fourthly, who disdain every one of these expedients; --not from any fertility of their own, but from the various ways of doing it, which they have borrowed from the honourable devices which the Pentagraphic Brethren[1.3] of the brush have shewn in taking copies. --These, you must know, are your great historians.
One of these you will see drawing a full-length character _against the light_; --that's illiberal, --dishonest, --and hard upon the character of the man who sits.
Others, to mend the matter, will make a drawing of you in the _Camera_; --that is most unfair of all, --because, _there_ you are sure to be represented in some of your most ridiculous attitudes.
To avoid all and every one of these errors in giving you my uncle _Toby's_ character, I am determined to draw it by no mechanical help whatever; ----nor shall my pencil be guided by any one wind-instrument which ever was blown upon, either on this, or on the other side of the _Alps_; --nor will I consider either his repletions or his discharges, --or touch upon his Non-naturals--but, in a word, I will draw my uncle _Toby's_ character from his HOBBY-HORSE.
[Footnote 1.3: Pentagraph, an instrument to copy Prints and Pictures mechanically, and in any proportion.]
There are others who will draw a man's character from his evacuations; but this often gives a very incorrect outline, unless you take a sketch of his in-goings too; and compound one good figure from them both.
I should have no objection to this method, but that I think it must smell too strong of the lamp, and be made wearisome by forcing you to have an eye to his natural actions.
There are others, fourthly, who disdain all these methods; not from any creativity of their own, but because they borrow the ideas of mechanical copyists. - These, you must know, are your great historians.
One of these you will see drawing a full-length character against the light; that's dishonest, and hard upon the character of the man who sits.
Others will make a drawing of you in the Camera Obscura - that is most unfair of all, because you are sure to be shown in your most ridiculous attitudes.
To avoid all these errors in giving you my uncle Toby's character, I am determined to draw it by no mechanical help whatever; nor shall my pencil be guided by any wind-instrument; nor will I consider either his repletions or his discharges, - but in a word, I will draw my uncle Toby's character from his Hobby-Horse.