St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-27
FAIRIES FIVE CENTS EACH.
How the Pretty Cigarette Photographs
Are Procured.
GOOD SHAPES AND FACES.
The Modus 0perandi Of the Willy Pho
tographer-- Chorus Girls Capt.
waited by the Camera.

J + !: !: !; !; !
~ WILL have your por-
M @ IA trait circulated in mill
va I ions," said New
@M la. York photographer to
MW &VE young lady, fashion
WT ably attired in new
w. Gspring rig, while he
MI 49, urged her to pose once
Mn asfA more for cigarette
NJ .~aJSIi picture.
W. EaATS 1t is rarely now that
ESS/ the festive cigarette
fiend would purchase
any brand that did not supply
phograph of maiden in IN
maidenly costume..with every five-cent
box OF cigarettes. To supply this de-
mand for youthful satisfaction some
cigarette firms still furnish fairy with
every ten cigarettes.
The origin of this plan was the issue
simply of an advertising scheme which
should attract customers and increase
the sales. As novelty it was success
full. as an Institution it has become per-
manent.
The result was attained by putting in
fanciful stage costumes vain women de-
sirons of being remembered in the
dreams of any and every man.
Such women were not hard to find at
hrSt. When the negatives of prominent
actresses taken in some reputable gal
lery were seized upon and recopied, the
sale increased thousand fold.
BurleSque beauties could be had by
the score for cents apiece. The like
nesseS were fairly good. but the greatest
art in the whole affair was displayed in
the posing and arrangement of
draperies
Many actresses began to raise siren
uouS objections to these pictures, eS-
pecially the more prominent members
OF the profession: but no law had been
provided to prevent copying photo
graphs. The profession proper. how
ever, have succeeded to a large extent
in crushing the further circulation of
prototypes.
The present difficulty of obtaining
fguranteS for the cigarette pictures has
led to strange complications in the
search made by photographers for sub
jects.
Zone dozen pictures free, my dear,
taken just as you like them," says the
seductive photographer to the proposed
young lady.
She consents, perhaps, and at time
appointed visits the gallery and is
shown dressing room.
You will find the costume inside"
says Une assistant.
"Where?" inquiries the young lady,
looking vaguely round the room, bar
rem of all furniture except a long mir
ror and two chairs.
There it u.s." replies the assistant,
touching the back of chair.
Upon nearer approach the young lady
discovers pair of skin tights, a jersey,
armleSS and almost bodileSS, and she
aSyS, heSitating. "Er-Well-but the
rest of it?''
"That ALL" answers the assistant as
he closes the door.
The. young lady usually accepts the
ltuatlon-sometimeS out of pure novelty
and curiosity, at others because she is
used to the airy garments of the stage
grotto or the fairy cave.
The cigarette manufacturers have a
contract with one, two or more local
photographers to supply them with the
biJou portraits mounted Oh cards, pay
ing them so much per hundred. That
relieves manufacturers of all RESPONSE
bility and causes an interesting cOmpe-
| tition among the photographers for sub
| jectS.
AS photographer is generally man
careful of his reputation, he engages
| young men to secure subjects for his
cigarette pictures. The young man re-
ceiveS 81 commission on every new face
and form obtained. the photographer
retaining the option of rejecting any
thing inSufficiently seductive for the
| cigarette smoker
The reporter Swallowed one of these
hirelingS once with the following re-
suit:
I'VE want good shapes and pretty
faces" admonished the photographed,
and with a ''rust-me" sort OF wink
the young man started out on his
rounds.
He did not begin work until after the
theaters were out; then he stationed
| himself at the stage door and intercept
ed chorus girls as they came out.
When the vain little stage butterfly,
alive to the advantages of being adver-
tised among the men and being remem-
bered in the dreams of dude cigarette
smokers, is offered the favored oppor-
tunity she accepts freely.
! A chorus girl is the most successful
subject to obtain. She has overcome
all prudery, and, costume or no cos
tune. her smile is unblemiShed by any
sense of shyness.
They are, most of them, painted pref
tily, and afterwards fiattered by the
touching up" of the photographer.
Another class of girls are the shop
and cash girls, who are daZZled by the
| sight of pretty costumes provided by the
! photographer.
&c h,4hsnu ;La r. or,5S