The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-01-08
PSICHICAL RESEARCH.
An Amateur Photographers Story
of Mysterious Picture.

"Well. Wilde, am glad to see yOu
back again. I'm sorry | can introduce
You 10 my wife just now, but size IS out,
and won't be back very much before
dinner, | expect. She left apologies and
ell that sort of thing for you, though"
1t was my most intimate friend and
school-fcllow, Barry. who spoke, as he
stood with his back to lis drawing
room fire, and rcclincd almost at his
feet in the easiest of easy chairs. l had
only returned to England three days be-
fore. after more than two Years of East
-ern wandcringS, during which the only
news l had of Barry had been 4 vague
announcement Of his approaching mar
riage. On my arrival had promptly
obtained from the Arts Club his address
ut passionate Brompton, and us soon
Is | had moment to spare | went to
see him, only giving him notice Of my
intentions in a note posted the night be-
fore.
Ny friend was an amateur phOtogra-
pher of the most enthusiastic type, and
i knew him too well not to be aware
that Il quarter of an hour would not pass
without his hobby'S coming into the
conversation somehow or other. After
five or ten minutes inconsequential
chatter it came.
You would like a beforc-dinner
cigar" he said. MY wife doesn't al
low them here-says they spoil the cur
tains. Come up into my study and FL
show yOu some of my work. | have not
done much lately. but | worked hard
before | was married, and | think some
of the DerbyShire scenes are really worth
looking at.
The room into which | followed him
needs no description. One room full
of photographs is uncommOnly like
another Cigars lighted there followed
ten minutes or so of the boredom of
looking at photographs of rocks, glens
and waterfalls; interesting to the taker.
no doubt, but utterly without attraction
TO any one else.
by the way" | said. ''the inStanta-
neouS process was becoming fashionable
when l left England. Have you done
anything in that way?"
Alas! He had.
80. YES he anSwed cheerfullv, drag
cling down a huge album from shelf !;
-'all these Were done by the new process.
Look at them.
pushed the pile of scenery away. |
had got rid of that at any rate, and
took the huge book upon my knees with
about Is lively a sense of relief AS that
with which convict turns away from
the sober occupation of Oakum picking
to the lighter frivolity of the tread-mill.
Now, thought. for trains in mo-
ton without wheels, horses gallOping
with fifty legs apiece. and swans on the
Thames with half Il dozen neckS each.
/ opened it at the first page.
'Bv Joye! If this was the sort of
thing my friend had been instantane-
ously photographing all means,
plenty of it.
The first picture in the book was a
portrait A head. A woman'S head
and nothing more. Though little in
distinct and blurred in outline, there
was deiiniteneSS enough in the photo
graph TO make manifest beauty such
as might have inspired the delicate pen
Gil of Leighton in his most ideal mood.
1t was face which had it been exhibited
in a gallery of Types of Beauty"
would have represented my views on
the subject with perfect accuracy, and
venture to think would have been
awarded the palm Tor the golden apple,
isn't it?) by nine-tenths of my fellow
men. The expression of the face was
one of sadness, but only the sadness of
passing thought. not deep-seated
sorrow; such an expression As might
shade the face of an angel on 4 tenn
porary visit to our earth. and which
would pass away with the first stroke of
the wings in its flight homeward. These
criticisms, may remark. are of course
the result of subsequent reflections. Ny
own feeling at the moment was one of
pure admiration.
what a beautiful face l said; ''but
was it taken at a spiritualiSt seance
that YOU had to use the instantaneous
process for it?''
Barry looked particularly pleased.
well" he said, you're rather
happy in your guess. 1t was something
very like it; but that is an enlarged
photo. The original is on the next
page"
turned the page.
by Jover' again, this time with
much greater surprise.
This was smaller picture-rather
larger than what they call, think, cab
met size. 1t was the picture of grave.
the head and only stone was . large