National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-12-05
NS~ HARPER'S CATALC
TAKING AN EYE TO BE PAINTED.
A Detailed Account of n Visit to an
Artist Who Covers Up Black Optics.
Ar.,.l

New York Sun.
The young man whose statement that he
obtained his black eye by running against
an open door In the dark was received with
some incredulity was obliged to repeat this
story SO often that he decided to undergo
the operation known as having the eye
painted, in order that he might not periure
himself beyond redemption. He had a
vague recollection Of having seen assign,
"Black Eyes Painted Here" while riding
on Third avenue street car through the
Bowery, and he accordingly mounted the
front platform of one of these cars aud rode
down to find the place. He found it with
out any difficulty in the vicinity of Chatham
square, location where the trade In black
eyes ought to flourish, by the way.
The first sign, "Black Eyes Pal :. cd
Here" pointed around a corner Here
another sign on photographers case
pointed to a hallway, and on every landing
and at the foot Of every fight for four
flights Of stairs was the sign, photograph
Gallery-Black Eyes Painted, )" Indicating a
surprising versatility on the part of the
artist. Up these four flights Of stairs the
youth with the black eye toiled persplr-
ingly, and finally found himself in the
or three young women and one embarrassed
young man were waiting. 1t was totally
unnecessary for the young man with the
black eye to announce what he had come
for. The eye saved him the trouble, aud
the young woman in charge Of the gallery
said "Gen'l'man to tend to you out in o
minute.n The other young women gig
gled, the embarrassed young man cheere
up triile, and the young man with the
nra ng nI
cerned as was possible under the circum-
stances.
1t was very superior person who, at the
expiration Of a few minutes, during which
the patient held newspaper before his
face and affected to be interested in 1t,
came out into the reception room. He did
not need to be informed what the young
man had called for either, but babe him
summarily, "Come in here ~ and led him
into the photographing room under the sky
light. take a seat, " he said, pointing to
chair before the camera,
~ don't want my picture taken, you
Know said the young man with the black
eye, and added feeble joke about looking
better for a photograph when his oye got
well.
The black-eye artist ignored the joke and
said 81 know you don't want no picture"
Then he proceeded to mix up species Of
that required several minutes, during which
time the young man with the black eye en-
gagged in hopeless effort to stare the pho
tographers assistant-a dirty boy of the
Bailey type-Out of countenance. 1t was
hopeless, because the boy only stared at the
black eye and grinned. Finally the black
eye artist approached with the palette, and
the young man asked:
"What is that stunt"
q oil 1,a to-
swell, Is there any danger of its injur-
ing my eyer" pursued the young man.
"Naw,n said the artist brskly. "It's
both healing and concealing. Look up at
the TOOf.h
The young man with the black eye gazed
heavenward, and the artist applied the
brush, whereupon the young man inyolun-
tarily closed his eye.
"0pen that eyo" sail the artist sternly,
pausing with his brush uplifted.
TIE young man meekly did as he was
hidden, and the artist painted the face care.
fully close up to the lids and for half m
inch below. When he got through the
young mans face fell us If heavy plaster
was pasted over IL. The black-eye artist
brought him a mirror, and as the other
gOzed into it, said "Don't get any soap on
that or rub It with towel. Fifty conts,n
The young man found that the preparation
was SO nearly the color OF the skin that the
fact that it had been applied was only
apparent upon close scrutiny, lie yentured
10 ask the artist II he did much business
~ paint about two men every day." the
artist, who was a youth Of very few words
said; "There's always two or three fights q
night around here, and ! can fix man NJ
SO even his wife won't know he's been hurt
You see black eye is always worse the sec
ond and third day, and have to paint 1t a
Al. a. 4