Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-06-24
TAKING A DEAD MAN.
singular Occurrence In q PhSt0-
Graph Gallery.

On Monday last an orlinary-looking
well-dressed young man Of about
twenty-five years, entered 4 well
known photograph gallery, and asked
If he could be served soon, as he
wanted peculiar style Of photograph.
The proprietor requested him to wait
4 few minutes, rs only one aSpirant
for the smile of the camera was ahead
of him. He sat down quietly, but
although he was not obliged to wait
longer than five minutes, he manifested
signs of petty impatience considerably
before the lapse of that period, turning
uneasily in his chair every moment
and looking frequently at his watch,
with a somewhat calculating eX-
preston. The proprietor, rs he passed
in and out of the waiting-room, noticed
this, and concluded that the young
man had an appointment. ---.-
At last his "turn" came, and the
proprietor asked him:
"What kind of n photograph do you
wish?"
"You may regard it rs rather whim-
sical," replied the strange customer,
"but want one taken with my eyes
shut"
"with your eyes shut.''
"Yes, for particular reason-with
my eyes shut and myself lying on a
sofa or lounge. In fact, as there's no
harm in it, want it to look as though
were dead. II you observe, l am
rather hollow-cheeked; that will favor
the appearance. made myself so by
eating almost nothing in the last week.
Don't you think can look telerably
dead?" And the young man closed
his eyes and compressed his lips.
With his pallid and somewhat ema-
ciated face, he had something of the
appearance of a deceased person.
YES" said the photographer, "but
this is such curious notion, that
scarcely know whether to"
"Pshaw,' laughed the young man.
There can be no harm In ir. will
explain why | want it done. | have
considerable means, and, like all such
persons, great many friends =
friends who would soon forget me were
| suddenly to become poor. l was
ALWAYS liberal to these creatures, and
indeed gave away half my fortune to
them. AT last | opened my eyes to
the folly of it, and moved far away
from them, bringing all my funds with
me. But even here they have found
me out, and they now importune me
by letter. l was always too weak to
refuse them pointedly and l have now
concluded to make them think | am
dead. that may have some peace.
will get these photographers and en-
nloy an amanuensis to write q number
Of letters to, various of these friends,
telling them died penniless, and in
Closing photograph to each. :"
The photographer laughed at this
idea, and no longer hesitated to per-
form the desired task. A sofa was
moved into the light room with 4 glass
roof and blue curtains, and the young
gentleman took very artistic dead
position.
AS the photographer peeped through
the camera at him and adjusted the
lenses, he muttered to himself:
WWhy, the fellow must be an actor.
fl didn't know positively that he was
alive l should thing him dead myself.
What capital counterfeit corpse"
Then, raising his voice" Now, you
will please look steadily at this-or,
excuse me. l forgot that your eyes
were to be shut. All right. As you
are. Don't move.'
The proper focus was attained, the
black cloth removed, and the instru-
ment went to work on It's accurate de-
lineation of corpse.
One Observation-Disclosures
tick-tick-tick, went the active little
watch that lay OH the framework
There That will do, SIR"
The photographer drew out the
negative" and hurried into the little
dark room where some chemical Won
ders are performed to secure the inn
preston, that it may not vanish In the
air like ghost.
"How Is this for dead?" he asked,
stepping out minute later, intently
-crutinizing the impression which he
carried In his hand.
As there was no reply, he looked up.
TO his surprise the young man still re-
famed his position; not limb or fea-
,ture had moved.
"Can he have fallen asleep: say,
sir-wake up. See how you like your
picture"
There was 10 response. Withstrangc
misgivings he stepped to the sofa and
shook the eccentric customer. But not
the slightest movement gave back q
sign Of life. The photographer shud-
dered as he realized the truth. He
had indeed photographed dead man.
Investigation proyed, tina. .tosS the .S"i1, Young
man was o member OF good family,
and that he had been, for several years
harmlessly insane, with periodical at
tacks of paralysis. On this occasion
he had eluded the vigilance Of his
watchers-for he was never permitted
to 90 through the city unattended-and
INDUCED in this singular freak. What
fantastic imaginings a disordsred brain
prompted him can only be guessed at.
The Door fellow, who tancied that he
needed something to save him from