The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-07-22
POSING ron PHOTOGRAPHS,
The Foibiea OF Presidents, Actors ana More
Common Persons.
Neo York Sun.

calmly and gazing critically al passeis by, ne
occasionally exchanging word or two with
friend. A prominent city politician passed.
turned his head, glanced al the large gentle
man, stopped, and said, " How are your"
"First rate. How'd you like themp"
aImmense. Take care Of YOURSELF"
"Never fear"
Away went the politician. The large gem
tleman took a fresh cigar, winked at the
writer, and said pleasant"
$50 should judge. Dogs?"
"No. Pictures"
"You don't sayl"
ayes, sir, pictures; photographs of him
self, that ticlked him nearly TO death"
"Yoa're photographer, thenp"
"l'm a positionist. / pose persons, and
have done so ever since 1890, when began
TO study the rudiments Of my art. have
the honor to be the Oldest man In the bust
ness. It's a special branch, you know. and
the whole success Of the picture depends
on 1t. Everything depends on the position
In photograph. I've made pictures Of ey-
cry President from Andrew Jackson downto
Garfield, aud satisfied them all by the simple
but elaborate process Of fattery. 1t must
seem rather odd TO you that / should have
known Van Buren,, Harrison, Polk and
Tyler"
"Do you remember their personal trsitsP'
"Oh, distinctly. In the early days we
made daguerrotypes, but as soon as photog-
raphy came In II swept the deck. made
picture of President Jackson In Philadelphia.
Jack was tall and thin, and had long face.
The Indians called him Pointed Arrow,
because he was so straight. He told me
about his duel with Dickinson way down on
the Red River in Kentucky, while he was
getting ready TO sit. He wanted me to make
a profile, but showed him that his nose was
too large, so we gave him full face and
bust.
swan Buren, was a round-headed old gen.
tleman, with heavy under-lip, mild, bright
eyes, and side-whiskers like DIR. Tanners.
He was good-natured, smiable Dutchman,
aud allowed me to do exactly as pleased
with him. lie took capital picture. Har-
rison was tall and very thin. He looked like
q galloping consumtiye, had big black eyes
with plenty of fire In them, Roman nose,
and very large ears. He wanted profile,
too, but explained that his ears were too
much of feature, and he cayed. These
men all want profile pictures they think It's
more in the order of things. Who knows Of
a full-face picture of Julius Cesar? Tyler
had figure like Roscoe Conkling-a big
bullying chest and q small waist, with an
autocratic carriage Of the head. He wanted
the profile of his chest, and / didn't want
profile of his face, so 1 took him sideways,
that il, looking over his shoulder, showing
the full face and curved breast. He was tall
and thin, like all Of our early Presidents.
James X. Polk looked like villain. He
had deep-set active eyes, long lines beside
his mouth, and overhanging brows. His
forehead was very fine, but he was rather
stumpy. Zach. Taylor was good old man !;
his manner was so hearty, and he had such
breezy way with him. He had big mouth
that smiled all over his face, and he wore his
hair In every direction. Fillmore was six
footer, and the first fat President We ever
had. Pierce looked good deal like Barney
williams, the actor. He took well, and did
lust rs ordered. Buchanan did't amount
to much, but Lincoln took magnifcently.
He was a homely man, but had lots OF indi-
ylduality. His pictures fattered him IN all
but the eyes. They were very fne-what
you might call good eyes. I've had fun do
ing old man Grant. or all the men ever
met lie Is the most positive-that Is, his face
has no expression. 1t is always the same.
He came into the gallery one day, all done
up nicely, and says: Il want profile with
bust
atCan't have it,
"Then I'll 90 somewhere else.'
aAll right, General, we'll have TO lose
you, then, for I'm boss here, and never give
In unless my opponent Ii better educated In
art than am. Are your
aWell, be looked al me for moment, and
then sat down and gave in. He's as easy te
do Is an old stone Jug"
"Whst did you mean by flattery when yor
spoke Of the ex-senator who Just passed y
awhy, ron don't suppose that photogra
ply Is accurate, do youS Bless you, no
The camera Is much sharper than the eye
and rsproduces every mole, freckie and speci
distinctly. We always take the negative ana
pencil out the spots. Then We mako tn
eyes larger In women's pictures BY lowering
the under lid, and reducing the mouth b.
shortening It or entirely redrawing It,"
.But this Isn't always SOP"
~. Always. A picture ID never sent on
without being touched up, because Il won
give satisfaction. Old maids have to be re
duoed about ten years on an average. W
pencil out every wrinkle and crease, and de
stroy tbs sharp outlines Of the face 70 d
this. They're awful hard TO sit, are oil
maids so fussy and oplnionated, you know
Lucretia Mott wss easy. The Friends Or
such modest folks that they want quiet I'll
restful pictures. Victoria Woodruff used
sail la and take possession Of the Who'll
business when she wanted picture. It wa
no use trying 70 cross her. The most dlfiicu
thing 70 got, you know, is the individualit
or the subject. II ID very difficult, soms
tlmes, because people come into . gallery .
ready 70 be shot. I've done % many that
know Just how 70 reach them. A man come
In with his face just rs he wants 1t, but M
u Ill like himself. say: What's you
business, slrf'
@sTm shlpbuilder'
"My father died from swallowing ma
iingsplks.'
aHs either looks up In amusement I
laughs. Perhaps both; but, 1t any rate,
break up the cast-iron cast Of his features
sWhe takes the best pictursS"
"A professional Actors and Actrcss'
can't take poor pictures, because they kno
Just what expression they want, and no
they want Il. Most people want 70 smile.
dont mean In liquid way, though that q
would Be quito true, but they want 70 !