Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-12-29
EVENING STAR.
DAGUERREoTYPING

That's the chap-him with the white
hat, fat and short, like our old sow.
Stand back, boys, and let me talk to the
image man. Hello stranger, are you
him? ?''
Whom do you mean, my friend z"
Well, now, l didn't say [ was YOUR
friend, but howsever, We wants to know
II you are the doggertype man that sent
them big bills out here! Hold on, I'm
show you one of 'em I" at the same time
diving his hand into his coat tail. he
pulled out one of my large posters.
"I profess to be the artist, gentlemen.
and shall be at your service shortlyn
Bill, do your hear the big words !!
Send for Caleb's larning book, till we
know what he's comm over u.s.
Such was the reception met with at
q small town called Sovereignville, near
the borders of Missouri, Arkansas, and
the Cherokee Nation. The crowd con-
sisted of motley group of half-breeds
and whites, of both sexes, that came
crowding around as l alighted from my
wooden eiliptic-spring wagon.
Shortly afterwards I took stroll over
the town. 1t is what is generally de-
nominated a "one horse town." and |
would think tolerably small pony at
that. Two stores, one grocery, stable,
and four dwellings made up the sum of
its buildings. | was searching for a
room for operations, and in passing |
was accosted by an old chap
What are you hunting for, stranger!"
Nothing but light" I replied.
why you're not blind, 1 don't think ::
| see plenty of light"
You don't understand me, friend;
am looking for a room suitable for taking
daguereotype pictures in-a room with a
good light"
"Oh, l reckon you're the great little
man what's going to take off our heads
with chimera. Maybe | can fix YOU
off; my daughter Polly's got a bed
chamber. Polly can gin up her bed and
sleep on a pallet. You won't take pic
lures by night, will you?"
"No, not daguerreotypes."
Well, polly axed me when you came
to get he fzhogamy took so YOU must
close the bargain with her about the
room"
Polly and soon "struck a trade"
and began arrangement for operations.
In the course of few hours announced
that was ready to take likenesses, and
IN short time my room was crowded.
All the cases for exhibition on the table
were opened and re-opened thousand
times; the contents of my trunk turned
over and over again, and every thing ex-
amined. Thinks l, this is ali talk and
no cider, and | asked if any lady CT gen.
tleman wanted picture. A dead silence
cnsued; then litter. At length one of
the Chaps said to his sweetheart:
Bette, suppose you have your pretty
taken"
mo, Bill, you front the glass and see
how it'll work On you"
81 golly," says Bill, "I try. Is there
any danger of the machines Dustin,
stranger! +! I've heard you'v. got an all
fired lot of chemicals and acids and sich
things-a perfect general assortment-in
thar"
"No danger in the world, sir. All you
have to do is to keep still few seconds. 4"
l then began to place him in position
"Hold on! l tell you, stl anger, none
of your steel-traps and triggers bout my
head !"
Softly, my friend; l am only placing
your head in the rest to keep you steady"
Hold on, | tell you! You're not
gwine to screw me up; I'm not the sort
to be screwed, can tell you, and eff yoa
don't quit I'll slope"
| then explained, as distinctly as |
could, the nature of the operation, and
Bill became easy. His position was
taken again, and | was Just about to
draw the slide from the plate, when he
cried out
"Betse, whar's the meal l.bag!"
"keep very still and quiet, now, if
you please" said l.
Whars the meal-bag, Betse !' cried
Bill again.
Stranger, thar was dogertype man
here from Maysville that made Ruben
Frother's face right black Oh one side,
and several others of their face the Same
way. Now, me and Betse fetched tie
meal-bag along to whiten one side of our
faces, SO when the machine works on us
we'll be the same on both sides" so
slap went the bag on the side of his face,
and Bill agreed to be drafted if both sides
would be white now.
l said not word; in fact, was
amused beyond laughing, and quietly
carried on the process. The crowd had
gained great faith in the meal.bag ar
rangement. The artist who had visited
them had, indeed, only given them half
pictures.
In few minutes the picture was pro-
duced. did not show it to my sister,
for the reason that hold it for Barnum,
who, when he beholds it, will dance,
shed tears of joy, and thencefort tn regard
me as his Aagnus Apollo, his greatest
benefactor.
After good deal Of trouble explained
to my patrons that the black pictures
were not the reSult of tho comaro HIT &C