The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-11-12
THE pHoToGRAPaER's WOES.
Some of His Customers Who Are Hard to
Please.

Please.
kansas City Star.l
"You must meet some queer people in
your business" said an Evening Star man
to Main street photographer, as that long
suffering individual was preparing to level
his warlike looking instrument at tremb'
ling subject. -Queer peopleP" replied the
place il so mildly. II there is any place in
this world that the fool element is bound to
crop out in human nature, it is in photo
graph gallery. No one sees the sublimely
ridiculous in life as the photographer sees it
every day. Now, look at that poor simple
ton sitting there trying to look pretty"
The subject alluded to belonged to the spe-
cies of girl who always looked her best with
a calico apron on and dish-rag in her
hand; in other words, she was a typical
biddy. Her anything but pretty face was
crowned by hat that would have made q
milliner gIoan. 1t was loaded down with
beads, ribbons and feathers of brilliant and
diversified colors. Her dress was of red and
Ler hair was banged to the end Of her nose.
The girl had q sickly smirk on her rough.
looking face, and was turning her eyes
toward the ceiling with gushing look that
was supposed to give her the air OF an ao-
tress. 1'You would be astonished," )" contin-
ued the photographer after ne had disposed
of the tragic looking hiddy, ITO see how
many absolutely ugly looking people come
to have their pictures taken, and to find
as l do that none OF them appreciate the
foct that they are not beauties. / am certain
that all people think they are much better
looking than they really are; but the exag-
geration with some is greater than with
others. All are invariably astonished when
they see themselves as others see them, and
to fpd-out how they have been deceived as
to their own looks. This causes us photo
graphers a great deal OF trouble. No matter
how perfect and true to life the like
ness may be the moment it is handed to the
object for the first inspection 1t Is sure not
to come up to his expectations, and tho
result is he finds fault and demands
another trial. We always cheerfully sit
people time after time, although we know
the first likeness was as near perfect as hu.
man art could make it. 1t would never do
to insist that the picture was true to life, for
such claim would wound the vanity OF our
customers. The result is we are compelled
to make fattering likenesses to bring the pic
lures up to what the conceit of the original
has made him believe ne really is. No matter
how revolving this practice may be to me as
an artist, must either resort to it or lose my
customers, for they will go where they can
get the most fiattering pictures"
"Who are the most difficult TO please, the
men or the womenP'
1.-The women always. A man may be
shocked to see that he is not as handsome as
his flattering looking-glass had depicted him,
but he almost always has sense enough TO
accept the discovery philosophically and not
insist on having the artist do for him what
nature has neglected to do. But the ladies,
how indignant they look when good like.
ness is shown them. Don't suit they say.
Why? oh, the general effect is bad and the
expression does not suit me- 1 have given
ladies ss high as eight or ten sittings when
the first piccure was the only true one. They
will come day after day and find fault, al
though their friends tell them the pictures
are true to life. Give me business man for
a sstis actory customer. He generally walks
IN with his hair just as he finds itupon leaving
his place of business, and without a glance
at the dressing-r0om or looking glass he
takes his seat leaves his order and does not
even ask TO see the proof. Such a man gen.
orally gets a good picture. 1t is the anxious,
nervous man or woman who tries to look
better than nature intended who gets stiff
unnatural picture that looks as though the
subject had assumed an expression for the
occasion. These people, instead of sitting
easily and measuredly, have a stiff way of
sitting in the chair, and their eyes have a
fixed, strained stare. Such people can
never hope to have good likeness taken"
At this moment young man with the un-
mistakeabIe appearance OF q tough entered.
His hat was on the back of his head, and
carefully placed to show sleek, oily curl
that came down over his right eye. His
pants were cut with an enormous spring at
the bottom, and mis- coat was not only bound
with braid an inch wide, but his pockets,
both on his coat and vest, were loaded down
with binding of the same material. In ans
wer to the artists polite query as to his
wants. he said: ~ want my picture took
from head to foot" After looking at the
proof to see that his spring bottom pants
and tallow-candle curl had not been
left out he Withdrew with a self satisfied
swagger.
The next subject was baby, which strug-
gled against "havin' its picture took" for a
half hour, and succumbed TO the diverting
influences of a jumping jack with a music
box attachment. II am often compelled to
use that jumping Jack for grown people" said
the artist, as the mother and child retired.
"Some people take the chair with such q
savage look on their faces that il is necessary
to make them laugh"
What style of photo is the most exten-
sively ordered nowp
'"The cabinet is almost exclusively ordered.
The card photo has gone out of date. Cab
inets cost from SO to $40 dozen. according
to their finish. Our busy season is just open
ing now. A cabinet photo is the most DO
ular gift In existence. We have more than
we can do for few weeks preceding the hol
idsys."
AS the reporter was taking his leave car
riage stopped in front of the establishment
and young lady in full bridal costume
stepped out. Here is tedious employment
for the rest of the day. said the artist
Anything but bride. You can't get any
thing that looks lovely enough for them
and their proud mothers generally stand
over the operator and tell him what to do and
how to do it,"