, 1885-06-23
HOME PHOTOGRAPHY.

the rural domicile of Reuben Higgles,
worth
While Mr.. Higglesworth was in the
city during the holiday season, a small
boy thrust into his hand a printed cir
oular, headed, Every Man his own Pho
tographer." Following this
ment was a lucid description of an anna
teur photographs outfit, whereby any
person, without previous Instruction or
experience, might take artistic photo
graphs of all the animate and ifranimate
things in his neighborhood, deriving
both pleasure and proft from the oper
alton.
Now | call that a mighty cute ar
r%angement," said Mr.. Higglesworth,
putting the circular in his pocket.
Guess III invest a few dollars in tho
amachoor machine and take it home TO
amuse Sary Ann and the children.
When he arrived home with his pur-
chase, sary Ann Higglesworth and the
four juvenile Higg esworth, examined
the contrivance %curiously. Finally Mrs.
HIS pent-up curiosity exploded in the
interrogation;
what in the world is it, Reuben.-a
patent oil-stoye or a new kind of churni"
well, your guess is away off. 1t is a
machine for making pictures. The man
who sold 1t to Inc, Sary Ann, showed
me the photographs Of some likely young
women one of these machines made,
and they was pretty enough to make a
man yearn to live his counting days over
again. A man can operate it by read
ing the instructions in this little book,
and when I've mastered them, Sary
Ann, I'll iust load up the Photographic
box and take your picture first.
Mrs. Higglosworth's preeoneeiyed no
ton of having a photograph taken was
something akin "a having a tooth ex-
tracted. she had experienced the lat
ter torture, but was thus far exempt
from the former.
"win it hurt, Reubenf' she asked,
backing away from the camera
ITO be sure it won't hurt. The thing
won't ~explode-not before it is loaded,
any way" he added, facetiously. you
must slick up a little, and make yourself
look pretty, and I'll make your photo
graph look handsomer than a profes-
sional beauty"
In a very brief space of period-for Il
woman-Mrs. H~igglesworth announced
that she was ready.
Now take a seat in this cheer, Sary
Ann, and look pleasant and natural
like. I'm not going to wedge your
head in 2 pair of tongs and twist you
into a position that II make you look as
lifeless and wooden as a cigar-store In
dian. photographers who follow the
business for a living always screw your
head into a pair of diabolical iron
clamps, and make you set as YOU never
sot before in all your born days-and
never will again, unless you get your
photograph taken by one Of the profes-
sional chaps. Now, get ready TO look
natural, and easy"
Then Higglesworth looked through
the camera at his wife, who was vainly
trying to assume several different posi-
tons at one time.
Throw up your chin a tribe, Sary
Ann-not quite so high. Twist your
head a trile to the right. There
that's better. You can wink all you
want to. Now look pleasant, and
smile a little atthe corners of your mouth
Great kingdom, Mrs. Higglesworthl
Don't open your mouth that way Dye
want to bust the plate and spoil the
pictured Think of something cheerful
and keep your mouth shut. Think Of
the sleigh ride we took before we were
married, when the horse ran away and
dumped US out in n demoralized heap,
and we had to walk three miles through
snowdrifts, When l pull the cloth of
the nozzle of tho machine, the perform
anc begins, Nowp'
The four children stood near the
camera, two on each side of the sitter,
and Mrs. Higglesworth made a heroic
effort to keep her eyes on the entire
quartette, and once raised a finger
warningly and gave a thunder lstie
glance at Tom, the eldest, who was act.
ing an original pantomime for the de-
location of his brother and sisters.
"There-it's all oyerl' said Higgles-
worth, throwing the cloth over the noz-
zle OF the camera.
''Sakes alivel' exclaimed Mrs. Hig.
ellsworth, bouncing out of her chair,
and giving Tom a smart box on the ear,
''how quick that was done, and / was
waiting all the time TO hear it go OF.
Do let me sec it, Reuben"
Cant you wait till l develop the neg
ativef' cried her husband, impatiently
'Ill let you see it in a minutel" and he
rushed into his dark room" according
TO the directions, and soon returned and
held the plate up to the light. There
you are, Sary Annl'
DO you call that mef" said his wife,
gazing at the picture with her eyes
bristling with astonishment. why,
whatever it is, it looks as black as
n n"
Eyes, | know Reuben interrupted,
but it will come all right when it is
printed. The black will then be light,
and the light dark. Now, since I've
got my hand in, I'll take a group of the
children. When every man becomes
his own photographer, Sary Ann-and
every woman, too-the business of the
professional will be paralyzed, and he
will either have to skirmish around for
some other kind Of employment. or 20
over the hill to the poor-house. It will
be pretty rough on him, but every maj
for himself is the motto in these days.
Now tidy up the children, wash their
faces, and comb their hair, and wei
soon have an artistic group Of EN-"
Mr.. Higglesworth prepared n plate,
and when the children were pro-
nounced ready, he arranged them in a
group, threw a cloth over the back Of
the camera and his head and prepared
TO focus" them.
"Humphl you are all there, but there
seems to be too much promiscuousness
about the group. Joe, place your right
hand on Susan's shoulder, and stoT
your COMPOUNDED snickering. Caroline,
stop scratching your nose; and
Tom, don't twist your head OF
trying to look around at youI
mother. Sary Ann, stand farther
to the left, so they can't see you. Now,