Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-06-16
Spirit Photography.

!
Brooklyn Eagle, thus discusses this last
sensation:
l went the other day to the Photographer
| would give you his name and address, only
| am afraid he would not like it as he is a
very high artist-keeps at the top of the
building.
A young lady presided over show case in
the reception room; she smiled on me sweet
ly, and asked me what wished.
| couldn't tell her all [ wished at that mo
ment, but mentioned that / wanted to have
lineaments Transferred to paper by the sub
tie and ingenious process of photography.
Whereupon she told me to walk up stairs,
which did.
l was received by the artist, who smelt
like drug store.
Told him wanted picture
Says he, will you have it with or with
out?'''
Couldn't you take it within, says ].
Excuse me" said he 81 mean with or
without spirits ? -
Il don't mind little spirits said l.,
wishing to be sociabe.
What spirit would you hke?" says he.
"Well, generally like Bourbon, but am
not particular.
Pardon me, you misapprehend. | mean
disembodied spirits; the shade Of depar-
/ ted relative cast upon the pictures in be-
nign attitude"
''Oh, see now, said l. You are a
spirit photographs.
We'll, you see the thing become the rage,
and we had to do it as well as other estab
lishments. All in the spirit line now. But
since we have gone into it we have developed
the art very much and produce spirits of
superior tone and finish, unequaled by any
other establishment
"What kind of spirits do you keep"
said |.
''All kinds" said he; anything from a
grandmother to an infant COUSINS aunts
distant friends, in any style. Our grand
mothers give the utmost satisfaction, while
our babes done in the most cherubic pattern
excite universal admiration.
''What kind of spirits are most in de-
mand p said l, feeling interested.
Maternal relatives are most in requisi
| ton, then children. Aunts are sometimes
called for, and we do a few cousins. Male
/ spirits are not much in demand. Sometimes
father is wanted, and we have had widows
who desired the shade of departed hus-
band, and we once did a brother"
Are not the spirits of departed wives in
voked by disconsolate widowers p
I'VE have never had a customer of the
kind yet"
''What kind O. an attendant spirit do you
think would become me in photograph p
Something light and cheerful should
recommend. How would you like beauti-
full young lady in whte-a youthful idol-a
remembrance of days gone by-quite poet
ical cohception-angelic spirit-watching
fondly over you, &c. ?''
THAT would be nice, but am afraid Mrs
| O'Lanus might make a row about it, and
| Sedilla Ann, if she got the picture, might
set me down as gay deceiver, and the old
folks think l wasn't safe person to have
around. I'd rather have that spirit in a
separate picture.
"Well. then, try something venerable, a
grandmother. Had grandmother, pre-
presume?"
Il have heard so.
'fou don't recollect the old lady; WE'LL
| all the better, the likeness will give the bet
ter satisfaction People who have too dis
tinct recollection of the departed are some
times hard to please. Had gentleman
here yesterday who wanted to be taken with
| his wife's aunt He tried our whole assort-
ment of spirits without suiting him. Asked
what popularity in his wife S aunt he missed.
He said she always wore spectacles, and none
of our spirits were so attired. Assured him
that spirits in the other sphere didn't need
spectacles and never wore them. But he
insisted that his wife S aunt did, and that she
could not see haystack at three PAGES with
out them"
Does it cost any more, said 1, ''to be
taken with spirit?''
Yes" said he, ''spirits are hard to take !;
have to use expensive preparations on the
plate, and pay an artist to touch them up.
Have to charge twice as much as plain pho
tographs.
| concluded to be taken without.