Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-03-17
From tho Cincinnati Commercial,
DAGUERREOTYPING himself

AS | was admiring some really beauLl-
full specimens of the Daguerreotype Art,
at Mr.. Balls room, on fifth street, day
or two since, my attention was arrested
by tall countryman with light hair and
smooth face, who squirted tobacco juice
over an area Of ten yards of carpet, and
seemed intently engaged in watching ev-
cry motion of the operator as he passed
to and from the reception room, sitting
his subjects and bringing out pictures, or
peering at him through the half open door
of the work-room, and in his absence
walking up to and around the camera, raj
sing the lids and removing the cap with
much apparent establishment.
l said he was tall, but l must describe
him further, or shall do him injustice.
His head was away forward of his chest,
and seemed to have but little to do with
his body, His shoulders were so much
bent over that one might have sat on
them without any danger of falling off,
lie wore gosSamer as slick and shiny as
one of Dodd's best. His blue dress coat
embcllished with brass buttons that had
probably been made in the year one, or
perhaps month or so before. 1t fitted
him nicely, however. only that it WAS too
wide around the body the sleeves were
too long and had to be turned up, the col
lar padded and canvassed without regard
to expense, projected upward in straight
LING to what would have been level of
the top of the head, if his head had been
placed directly above his shoulders. The
waist came little below the armpits, and
the short tail from the bend in his shout
dsrs, shot straight out behind. A green
vest, by way Of conformity--for green
and blue blend we'll togethcr-drab pam
falcons extending downward to within
four inches of his ANGLES, and brogan
shoes, completed the tout ensemble of the
gentleman, who, just as l had completed
my survey his external man, broke out
with
Hullo, Mister, how much do you ask
for drawing likenesse 2
That depends principally upon the
size, sir, replied the operator to whom the
question was addressed.
well, that ere size you jist tucked in
thar
'One dollar, sir, when put up in neat
case
We'll, how much do you ak for 'em
without case, for I'm tolerable good
carpenter, and you know could frame it
myself
We are not in the habit of selling them
in that way, sir, but l suppose if you pro-
vide frame, about seYenty-tive cents
Say half dollar, can't yer-hcy o
But the operator having something else
to attend to, was out of hearing. Soon
Iva a., -
but when the plate having been duly ex-
posed and properly manipulated was
again returned from the inner room per-
feet picture, his wonder could no longer
be controlled
well, I'll be burned eff that amt Jest
exactly like him. Now-now-now, that's
Gurus, haint it, how they kin draw 'em
so exact, an in little less than no time.
say Mister, how long does il take fell
Ter to larn to draw them licensees o
Oh, not long sir, The process is very
Well can he learn it in a week'r two'r
three days, or SIGH matter?
have known persons master in much
less time sir, some In as short a time az
two hours, but they have to be tolerablv
smart
well, don't want to brag, but Pm
one of them sort, l never did put nv
hand to nothin' yit that didn't 60 right
through with, an I'll be dog-ond eff 1 amt
mind to-d'ye charge anything for
learnin Teller how %
Nothing at all, sir
An its pretty money-making bust
ness amt it p
e., Yes e sir. it is profitable when success