The name ‘The Savage’ was spontaneously suggested by a founding member of the London Savage Club:
‘When a dozen of the original members assembled in the Nag’s Head…it became a question what the club should be called. Everyone in the room suggested titles, one said Addison, another Johnson, and a third Goldsmith, and at last a modest member suggested the Shakespeare. This was too much for the gravity of the company who perceived that the members were bent on making themselves ridiculous. Who are we they said that we should take these great names in vain? If we must have a name, let it be modest one – one that signifies as little as possible. Hereupon a member called out in a spirit of pure wantonness “The Savage”. This was accepted with acclamation.’
It is believed that the Victorian gentleman who suggested this name was referring to a contemporary literary concept with which he would certainly have been familiar. The notion of the ‘noble savage’ had been popular since the 18th century and is similar to ideas developed by Jean-Jacque Rousseau ahead of the French Revolution, although the term itself was not used until the 19th century.
The concept suggested that man, in his natural (or savage) state, was born innately moral, with the instinct for creating good and an inherent appreciation of beauty. This innate ‘nobility’ was destroyed when man lived amid the pressures of a structured, hierarchical society and this, in turn, led to moral decline and the doing of ‘evil deeds’.
‘The Savage’ was unaware of his innate nobility, and consequently, a humble soul. He saw beauty where those ‘poisoned’ by society did not, but knew nothing of his talent. As such, it was not uncommon for struggling or ‘misunderstood’ artists (literary, physical and musical) to be affiliated with this ideal. The artistically minded were thought to retain, in some form, the ‘spirit’ of the noble savage.
The first members of the Savage Club wanted to be seen as humble artists. Affiliating themselves with the names of great successes did not advocate this, but use of ‘The Savage’ presented them as a group whose talents would be judged purely by others. The London club members also adopted Richard Savage as their ‘godfather’, to confound this point.
‘No one can say there is anything pretentious in assuming that name. If we accept Richard Savage as our godfather, it shows there is no pride in us.’
Savage was a struggling poet, satirist and friend of Pope who died in prison after a turbulent life – he was the embodiment of a humble artist. The current Leeds Savage Club adheres to this original philosophy –
‘A Leeds Savage is someone who draws, paints, sketches, writes prose, poetry, lyrics etc. at any ability. We don’t give a hoot if the extent of your portfolio of work is contained on your desk-pad at work, or the furthest your poetry has ever got is your bedroom door. The important thing is you don’t just talk about doing it; you do it. A Leeds Savage does not spend their time in cafes boasting about how one day they will write a book, nor is a Leeds Savage someone who is looking for people to tell them how great they are.’ – Robert St-John Smith, current Chief of the Savages.
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