The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-10-14
A Taste of Art.

We were looking at some splendid
photographs the other day. Magnificent
pictures they were Having a natural
taste for art, whenever we see any
thing remarkably fine we get to think
ing. We thought what an advance the
art of picture taking had made since we
were boy, and everybody-particularly
printers-when they broke down under
the pressure of their regular business,
followed the art of taking daguerreo-
types, and compelled their unfortunate
victims to sit for three minutes-which
seemed three hours-their eyes directed
into the opening of the camera. What
agony these poor victims suffered, and
how eagerly they watched, and how
anxious they were, after the "picture
was Took" until it was cased, paid for
(price three dollars), and taken home to
be the wonder of the neighborhood.
And then we thought of the photo
graph gallery on the same floor of the
office in which we were "devil to the
"art preservative, and how there came
stamping up the stairs one day great
lubberly boy, the sound of whose heavy
shoes resounded through the building as
his feet came down with crash. And
the very funny voice in which he asked
if this was where "profiles was took"
and of our answer that it was, and of the
other devil that took possession of us,
and which we regret every time we think
of it.
Boys will be boys, and printers devils
were then the worst-the very worst
imps in the world. We have not forgot
ten how we took that young grangers
profile how we seated him ON the high
editorial stool, and made him hold before
his face heavy wrapper, while we took
the old ball with which we mixed the
form, and covering it with printers ink
more carefully than we did when beating
a form for old Matt, the pressman, we
stood before the victim and told him
that all was ready, and when we said
drop, he must let go the corners of the
paper.
1t is all before us to-day, the trembling
fingers holding up the paper and hiding
from view what was going on outside of
it, somewhat suspicious, no doubt, that
all was not right, yet hoping that it
might be, and that good picture for
Mary Ann would be the result, ourself
standing there, holding the ball up be-
laughter so that we could scarcel.. utter
the word "drop," and Mike, the junior
devil, off one side crowding the inky
towel into his mouth to keep from laugh
ing.
Then came the word "drop," and the
heavy wrapper fell, and the ball was
pushed forward into the victims face.
His hands went up to keep off the blow,
but hands, face, hair and clothes We're
one mass of black, sticky ink, and such
picture as was "took." Sad as the re-
suit was, it makes us smile to-day as we
think of the victim standing there, Won
dering what it was all about, and grow
ing more and more angry every second
as light began to dawn upon his mind.
1t was very laughable just then, but
when young Granger saw through it all
and made for us, and we went down
through the Office one way and Mike
the other, and galleys of type and cases
went to the floor, and Granger's foot
went through the advertising page of
last weeks form, as it stood against
stone frame, and Mike and ourself struck
the door at the same time, and Just as
the proprietor came in-just in time to
save us from Granger's wrath, but also
in time to view the destruction done, the
type that it would take week to reset
pied, and to take us in hand himself.
In those days printers devils did not
run the office themselves; the "old
man " had a hand in it, if necessary,
even to physical correction, and, if our
memory serves us right, we felt what it
was to be corrected, and quit the da
guerreotype business forever. O,Oego
(N. " Record.