I got caught up in them last night. He had a rare talent but so many of those English photographers of the time were good. And English children have always been immensely photogenic. I have several myself that I took during a Christmas parade in Haworth around 2000.
Also he was good friends with quite few of the Pre-Raphaelite artists.
Have you seen his drawings? He did a few for the Alice books, but they weren't used.
Yes, many English children were/are beautiful; I agree. I love all of the very old photos of children; wealthy, upper middle class, and the extremely poor. The ones of the very poor ones are haunting.
Kidnapping is a serious offense!