Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-06-14
AMATEURS CAM ERAS.
PHOTOGRAPHY A RAGE AMONG
THE ARTlSTlCALLY INCLINED.


A Curious Collection Of Pictures OBJ
tanned Ia the Sims at Midnight by
Means Of the Magnesium Flash-Amuse-
Dlent for Ones Guests.
Amateur photography has become a genu-
inc rage Every self respecting young per
son who would keep abreast OF the times is
the owner OF some sort Of instrument which
produces more or less speaking hkenesses Of
their friends and family, of everything that
lives and moves or has its being within Tense
range OF their domicile, not to mention every
nook and corner OF the house There is
scarcely a library table throughout the
length and breadth of this city which is not
laden with dim and wierd amateur likenesses
OF the family-pictures the amateur regards
with blissful pride and the family with in
dulgent liberation But even this joy Of
caricature begins TO pail ON the holder spirits,
and their very latest achievement and de-
light is the fash light photograph.
For those who unfamiliar with this
method OF melancholy perpetuation it may
be necessary to explain that it includes an in
Simultaneous tense, detective camera, and
cartridges loaded with magnesium. These
cartridges are either fired OFF with match
or exploded in pistol made for the purpose
With these implements an instantaneous
picture can be taken in the pitch dark, and
the favorite fad is founder the guidance
and protection of IA Policeman visit the
sunB at midnight and by the use of the sud
den binding flash of magnesium cartridge
procure strange incidents of that quarter
taken as they occurred.
CURIOUS COLLECTION.
A physician here-well known, too but
who objects to any publicity concerning his
little amusement-has n curious collection of
pictures obtained in this way. He IL a friend
OF Inspector Byrnes, and by special ndul-
gence and under the personal conduct of the
great detective was enabled to procure some
negatives that could not be duplicated in this
country. He and the inpector visited the
vilest dives and, without the inmates being
aware of his purpose, he would get his
camera focused, and without warning, a
lightning flash from his pistol would fix the
scene of the plate. One of the scenes in an
opium den is peculiarly effective, as he stood
in the doorway unnoticed until the magnes-
iun light flashed out and caught the whole
picture with every inmate of the place in
his natural, unrestfained attitude. There
are fan tan players in the full fury Of the
game some of his plates; dance halls
filed with half drunken and wholly drunken
brutes knocking their glasses on the table in
bedzened creature whom it is iattery to
call woman. Without going down into the
haunts of the criminal classes, it is possible,
through this large collection of proofs, to
get a clear idea of them i'll their unconscious
h.deousness
One of the most remarkable pictures in
this collection is one taken, not by the quick
glare of incandescent mineral, but imprinted
ON the sensitive gelitine by heavens own fire.
When DR.. - first began his experiments at
the seashore last summer there came a night
of pitchy blackness, with prodigious wind
and great electrical disturbances, but no
rain. Carrying the camera out upon the
beach and drawing the slide he waited for a
flash of the lightning, which was binding in
its intensity A sudden CLEAN lit the world
and as suddenly expired in blachness. He
closed the slide and carried the plate away
for development Such picture as that rag
ing ocean, photographed by lightning, pre-
sents was never equaled 1t is like one of
Dores CHASTITY phantasies.
AMUSING ONES GUESTS
Another of this flash photography is to
afford amusement to ones guests 1t has |
superseded for the moment the amateur reci- |
tationist and the parlor warbler. At break |
fast, luncheon and dinner parties the camera |
man is introduced and catches IA picture of |
the entire scene, the results being dis
tributed by mail among the guests a few
days later. 1t used to be the fashion, when
attending a meal notable in any way, to Sc
cure the autographs OF the whole party on
the back of the menu, but now it is held far
more desirable to have the likeness of the
famous or beautiful participants, and that in
their natural attitudes, engrossed in CONVEX
sation, and not primly arranged for perpetu-
alton.
The other night lot of actors and artists |