Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-01-03


Pacific Power of the Photosrnphlc Art
A Parisfan COxcOmb,s AdroIC Mode OF
Escaping from Revengeful Husband.
A Paris correspondent in recent letter
relates this amusing story;
Phe readiness with which quick-witted
Parisians sometimes get out of a "fix," was
aptly illustrated the other day, by the ad-
ventures of a scapegrace, smitten by the at
fractions of lady seated opposite him in
boulevard omnibus. The lady was captivat-
ing, the Partisan gallant. The admiring
looks of the gentleman betrayed what was
passing in his mind, viz: that his Uis-d-Uis
was an uncommonly pretty woman; aud the
natural coquetry of the latter soon brought
to her rosy lips an involuntary smile. This
was, quite enough for the impudent jack
anapes who drew a visiting-card from his
pocket, scribbled on it the words, "At home
every day until two P. M" and adroitly
dropped the bit of glazed pasteboard in the
ladys muf, as he rose to leave the omnibus
The next morning our "Don Juan was
awakened at a very early hour, by mes
senger bringing him q letter. containing q
q few lines of somewhat alarming tenor, as
follows: "You are a hair-brained fellow, and
your conduct toward me has seriously COM
promised your own life My husband, who
is as jealous as a tiger, has accidentally
found your card, and sweRrs he will kill
you Look outp There was no signature
to this warning epistle, but the gentleman
instantly called to mind the incident of the
previous day, and was thrown into state of
no little CONSERVATION by the prospect of
receiving a much less agreeable visit than he
had hoped for. .f.
However, he did not lose his presence Of
mind, in the emergency which now pre-.
sented itself. As pastime, he had learned
the Photographic art and was provided with
the implements of the profession. Dis
missing with handsome gratuity the mes .
senger who had brought the letter he has
tened to a neighboring Daguerreotype es-
tablishment with whose proprietor he
chanced to be acquainted, and borrowed a
| frame full ofspecimens, such as Photographic
artists display at theiI door to attract Gus
toners. This frame he hastily suspended at
the entrance to his lodgings, gave q few
words of instructions to the porter (accom-
| panied by bribe) brought forth his camera,
scattered number Of Photographic speci-
mems on the table in the parlor and calmly
waited further developments. He was not
kept long in uncertainty. Ten minutes af-
ter his cunning preparations had been com
pleted the bell of our scapegrace's lodgings
was pulled with a violence which gave the
wire ample cause for remonstrance (if bell
wires were capable OF .remonstratingl and
upon opening the door, the extempOrized
photographer found himself face to face with
a parsonage who @looked dreadfully tall
dreadfully stout his hair dreadfully mussed
and his temper evidently dreadfully ruffled
1t was the fascinating lady's husband, nj
gered in the mind of Lothario, it would hav,
been dissipated at once, by the sight of hi
own card-the card-which the dreadful
visitor held between his brawny thumb ant
finger. Without single question as to tn
identity of his intended victim, or evei
taking the trouble to ask whether or not h
had strawberry mark on the right shoulde
(Which was grave over-sight), the dreadful
stranger thundered forth, "Sir, you ar
-
Photographic artist, sir, at your servicel
interrupted the other, just in time.
81 don't care whether you are a photo
graphic artist or not, sir W retorted the gen
tleman with the disordered hair. "You CAV
this card, sir, yesterday, to my wife-m
own particular wife, dye hear 2-and I wis
to have settlement with you"
"Oh with pleasure, sir But never in
sist upon being paid in advance, for fear tn
likeness should not afford entire satisfaction
Madame has not yet done me the honor t
give my process a trial. Would you be S
good as to? Please to sit down in thf
, chair There If l can transfer thi
amiable smile to paper your friends will a
test the triumph of my system. Be so goo
l as to run your fingers through your haiR,
r order that the expression shall not appe,
studied. Now, them Perfectly still, if 20
please l--Al rightl It's doneW
"But, sir--p ..fts Of. ga al
"a few moments patience, and you sha
see the result" And, without giving IL
puzzled visitor chance to reply, the il
D genious amateur disappeared, to "eeok" IL
a picture, which he presently exhibited, vii
!. an air of great professional triumph, to IL
humbugged "Othello," whose rage now gay
g way to admiration Of his portrait-for eYei
|, body thinks he makes splendid photograp
Thus, the Modified domestic tyrant we
home so well satisfied of the absurdity of
suspicious, that he promised to send "Desd
: mona" to have her likeness taken-as SOC
: as he could conveniently accompany her