Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-03-29
DAMS PHOTOGRAPH.


The uueerest fellow, without eXcep.
tion. in all Wexford, was Daniel Battler.
He was sixteen years of age, yet he
had the reputation of possessing as
much knowledge about odd and out-of-
the-way things as any ten average lads.
He was believed to have an intimate
acquaintance with every trout in the
streams, every bird in the woods and
every rabbit in the burrows. He had
the largest collection of birds eggs to
be found in the country; and it was re-
ported and solemnly believed by all the
small boys in the neighborhood that
he had a secret understanding with the
king-fishers and orioles, by which they
agreed to surrender an egg of each lit
ter to him, in consideration of his prom
Use to let all others alone.
He was always taking up some new
idea to work out. If he did not know
all about many things he really seemed
to know little about everything. He
knew how to print, how to bleed a
horse, how to use a telegraph instru-
ment, how to cultivate silk worms, how
to make the most outrageous noise with
his hands, how to grow pears, how to
play checkers with his eyes shut, and,
in short, he knew how to do nearly
everything that came in his way to
earn.
One day the neighbors opened their
eyes and pricked up their ears at the
news that Dan had taken up photogra-
ply; not that they were astonished at
anything that Dan did, but they were
interested in his enterprise, though re-
garding it simply as another freak of
his curious genius.
"Well, WE'LL" said they, Struggling
their shoulders, "Dan is an odd stick.
It's about time he went into something
useful. Photographs, eh?"
The report was true. Dan had OBJ
tanned a camera of good size, and was
experimenting with it up in his "den," q"
in one end of his mothers garret.
1t would be hard to imagine more
untidy, ,chaotic-looking place than Dams s
den" 1t was full of bottles, and
clothes, jars, bits of machinery, music
al instruments, carpenters tools, old
maps, torn pictures, pots of paints and
chemicals, fragments of old machines,
stuffed birds, etc.; and it smelled so
fearfully that no one but Dan could
ever stay long enough to make an in
ventory of all the contents.
Dan was as odd-looking character
as one would be likely to see in year. s
travel. He was thin and lank in the
body and legs. His head was large,
and he had light blue eyes, and long,
whitish hair, which he rarely combed,
and which struggled about all over his
head, as if the rats had made nests in it
the last time he slept.
He was not much of a talker. He
generally kept silent and stared. No
body knew what an amount of thinking
he did meanwhile, and in fact many
who laughed at his greenness had to
confess afterward that he not only saw
all things that were going on, but knew
more about what he saw than the
smartest of them.
Dan went on with his photographing
for several weeks. He learned to take
very good pictures, but he was far from
satisfied. His fingers were always
stained black and brown with acids that
he could not wash off, and his clothing
always gave out peculiar scent OF
collodion.
Dams mother began to be really anx.
ious. The boy was growing UP loose
Observation-Disclosures, but without any par
ticular turn for one profitable calling.
1t was necessary that he should choose
some single business and stick to it.
She took the boy in hand and expostu-
lated with him. Dan looked distressed.
"Hm trying to do something, mother
I've just got hold of it now, guess.
only want little more time
This was about as long speech as
Dan was in the habit of making at one
time. His mother was paciiied, and
for the present let him alone.
Two or three more weeks slipped by
Dan made pictures of everybody he
could get before his camera. He pho
toeraphed his den and all his miscel
laneous trumpery. He photographed
buildings, fences and trees.
Still he did not succeed to his mind
His pictures lacked the peculiar shad.
ing or "tone" that he wanted His
dream was to achieve this, which he be
lieved would not only make them very
beautiful, but give him a large anC
pIOuldDlc CuSlOlls
He labored necessarily, now trying
this plan, now trying that, but withoul
any perfect result.
In the course of his experiments out
of his garret window, Dan made street
pictures of people both near and re-
mote, in divers attitudes, and at nearly
all hours of the day. Dan took them
in single figures, and in groups; he
took them looking up and looking
down, making gestures or sitting still
he took them as they stood in win.
dow, and as they walked below him, OF
rode past in carriages. Many of the
photographs were good, but still the
subtle finish was wanting. Dan could
not realize his dream.
Finally his mother begged him tc
stop his amusement, as she called it,
and go into store or some busines.
where he might support himself.
Dan shook his head.
Cant, mother"
"But, Dan. L can't afford TO Civ,
much more money for the acids you
want
"AhP" said Dan. And he shook hi,
head once more, and looked very de
jected.
He was at his wits end. He believed
he was on the very verge of an impor
tant discovery. He only wanted littl,
more money. Where should the none,
come from.
This was trying question. He coulC
not imagine that anyone would lenC
him enough cash TO carry out his prof
ect, and he did not seem to think O
any way to earn sufficient sum. Ill,
went up TO his "den" and sat down in
the midst Of his bottles and rubbish