The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-03-07
Getting a Photograph.

The artist asked me if / wanted full
faced picture. told him that was just
what wanted, as my cheeks were get
ting rather thin, and if it was possible,
| and wouldn't cost too much, / said /
would like to have it taken to look just
as did when ] was twenty-five, with
clustering curls overshadowing my
noble brow, instead of this heavy alb
sence of hair which now cumbers it.
I wanted the photograph pretty large,
on scale of a mile and a half to the
inch, and wished him to be very particu
lar in taking my teeth, which were just
| from the shop.
sat down and arranged myself in a
classical attitude. My carpet-sack,
which was packed for light travelling
(that is, with nothing in it but tooth
brush, reposed gracefully at my feet.
I asked him if he would take my feet.
He said he would, and / told him he
might have them, bunions and all. My
gingham umbrella was under my arm,
and my coat buttoned up to the neck to
save my shirt. ct was the only one /
had, and didn't want him tn take that.
l had waited for it good while and was
proud of it.
/ told him I wanted the picture taken
so it would show all sides of me, and
people could walk around me. didn't
want only half picture, and if any
thing was to be left out to let it be the
rheumatism and, as | am little hard
of hearing, he might be careful and not
get any deafness in the picture.
He then turned his chameleon OBJ
scuror upon me. was getting fright
ened. and thought he might have some
murderous design of blowing me to
pieces. / begged him to give me chlor-
oform or laughing-gas, and said l would
much rather he would. But he told me
to sit quietly now, and keep my ewes
on the camera, and would see little
bird fly out, and not speak, for he
couldn't take my word.
"Steady, now," said he, removing
the cloth and turning his back to me.
But couldn't see any little bird coming
ont very fast, and thought the artist
was humbug, and changed myself in
to an easier position by turning around
so both sides of me should be repre-
sented in the picture, and went to max
ing chalk-marks on the screen.
Then he said "all right" and shut
up the machine, and said was blamed
Il
jumped up and asked him by what rule
in arithmetic he ciphered that conclu-
sion out, and felt on the instant that /
would have to cram his head down his
throat and let him die of strangulation.
He said by moving / had spoiled my
picture. I told him to use little more
etiquette book to me, or would spoil
his.
TT al % asA
still this time, and not even move my
ears, nor laugh in my sleeve. He then
rang little bell and sat very quietly,
and moved as little as l could in re-
moving nv right boot, which was very
tender. He then said, "all right, -
and turned around to shut up the ma
chine, and suddenly said, "By thunder
Why, man, I don't believe can ever
get to take a picture of you unless you
sit in, somebody's lap, or put on
straight Jacket.
I told him / was never known to sit
still unless had a good deal of work
to do, and then I always overdid it, and
asked if he wouldn't let me go behind
a screen when he weat to take my pic
ture again. He replied that would |
make better picture that way than if
/ was in front of it.
At last he gave me some soothing
syrup, got dead set on me, and prom
ised that he would give me stick of
candy if wouldn't move, which didn't,
except to put nv foot down on mouse
which came out and went to nibbling |
my boot. Then he closed the box and |
said he had me in there now; and, to
tell the truth, it is the bast bird's-eye |
view of myself ever saw. Talk about |
the Venus de Medici, the Goloshes of !
Rhodos, or Sam Patch--they amt any |
where As the artist said, he could |
take anything.
I let him take my note
WASHINGTON WHTrEHoRN.