New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-12-19
from the New York Mail.
The Tr0mC In Faces.
Pictures OF Popular People, and Some uri-
Gus Facts bout she Sale Of Them.


Gus Facts About she ssle OF Them.
let us step into a shop for the sale of pho
tographs in this city, and learn by what
means the pictures of prominent people are
taken, how they sell, etc. There 10 great
demand for picture OF A. I. Stewart, the
merchant prince, but not picture Of him can
be had-therc are none in the market, and
never have been. Mr.. Stewart declines e
have his face photographed, mounted on a
card, and sold to the public. Rumor says
that John Bright once sent him polite re-
quest for his photograph, but he declined.
There is no merchant in the United States
whose picture would sell so we'll. People
have an intense desire to see him. Why Mr..
Stewart declines to be popularized is not
known, but he probably does SO for purposes
of self-protection, that he may be able TO go
to Saratoga and about the country without
being annoyed by people who seek employ
ment or ask for money.
Mr.. Stewart is not alone in this popularity
His great rival, H. Ii. Clafiin, is in demand,
but no picture of him can be had. After
much urging, Quincy was allowed to take q
life-size portrait of him, which WAS added to
the gallery Of famous New York merchants
and bankers. Some small copies OF this pic
ture were taken, and offered 10 the public.
As soon as Mr.. Clafiin heard OF the fact he
made representations to Mr.. Gurney which
caused that artist to withdraw them. So
there are none of this famous merchant TO be
had. The same facts are true OF Jay Cooke,
the well-known banker. A few OF his PIC
lures came before the public in much the
same way as Mr.. Clafiin's, and lie at once
stopped the sale of them.
For long time it was impossible to get a
single picture of Mrs. Harriet Beechsr Stowe.
Il 1,nt,, faE ov, hn
same card with her brother, Henry Ward
Beecher. Many people wanted Mrs. Stowe
by herself. After working Cor months, and
by the use OF q little strategy, q prominent
dealer in New York succeeded in getting her
Picture He Offered a certain editor five del
lars If he would induce MIS-. stowe 10 sit i0r
her picture, which she finally did. The por-
trait thus procured was very good one.
Mrs. Stowe looks more and more ike her IA
nous brother as she grows older. The pub
LEGATION OF her True story Of Lord byron
damaged her popularity immensely, and there
was great falling off in the demand for her
pictures, which has never fully recovered.
Her picture sells very well now.
1t is not difficult to get pictures Of all promi-
nent actors and singers. These are public
characters, aud the more they arc advertised
the better. There is constant demand for
the pictures of actors and singers who have a
national reputation, such as Booth, 10 Jcfcr-
son, Seebach, Ristori, Parepa Rosa, Nilsson,
etc. The sale Of the pictures OF actors al
ways increases while they are playing, and
then drops off. The call for pictures Of To-
cal actors stops as soon as they leave the
stage.
Among actors, the sale Of Edwin Booths
pictures takes the lead. More are sold of
him than of all the other actors in the United
States. He IL 4 particular favorite with the
ladies. His face is perfectly pure in its ex-
preston, without the least trace Of sensual
ty, and is also highly intelligent. 1t has Il
pensiye, half.sad expression, which bewitches
the ladies, none OF whom object to having
bis picture in their album.
Among women Mrs. cOtt-SiddOns has the
same expression Of face, which is fascinating
for all pure-minded men; and they purchase
largely Of her pictures. Photographers say
no woman ever appeared ON the American
stage who made picture Of such absolute
perfection. Very few people ever care for
the picture of Mrs. Scott-Siddon's husband,
and the only way she could float his face into
the market was by having it put on the same
card with herself. 1t is curious fact, too,
that there is no call for Mrs. Edwin Booths
picture.
Other husbands who have noted wives are
just as unfortunate as Mr.. Scott-Siddons.
Nobody ever calls for Prof. Stoves picture,
the husband of Harriet Beecher Stowe ;; no.
body asks for Mr.. Stanton's picture, the hus-
band Of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and there
was no sale of Ristori's husband until his
picture was displayed in the shop windows ne
Ristori's husband" when few took pity
on him and purchased.
There are moro pictures sold of Henry
Ward Beecher than Of all the rest Of clergy
men In the United States put together.
TIA al the rest Of the editors in The country.
<~1ter ~ lapees or cry, the fact i that "