New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-18
THE CAME-LUNA.
HOW NOT TO FAKE PHOTOGRAPHS.

I gave them permission TO do so. Although had the
utmost confidence in my untned powers, SUN hah
sufficient sense left TO take this prccaution
Maria had been very extravagant in her promises;
q che had hoped TO die II she told single living
soul: 81 there ~ She so Impressive that felt
relieved.
The very next morning after my return from Boston
with nv precious outfit made my hrst attempt'
Maria came my room three times before O'CLOCK
IN tell me must be sure and not be late she was so
excited that she could not eat any breakfast ana
the rest Of MS were not much better Mrs Bennett
informed Gjah that the house was to be took as soon
% the sim was high enough. She asked me II Maria
should wear her best clothes and the child waited
breathlrssly for the Her face fell sany Wheh
I said no. Her mother put Off the picmahng that
she might be Of the group IN the ioresrouhu'
She said she didn't know why but she had some such
fceln' as she had when she was gon to nave 'oo'n
pulled. ,..
the yard walked about with It, looking for the best
mint of view with as knowing an air as coulu as
sumo | Immediately began to experience thae hauh'
ing wish OF the amateur to get In all one can on one
Mate wanted the porch, which had vines on IT, ana
fhc front Of the building, where was a Lomoafuy
poplar and tie back. whore the hammock was anu
the old bench that looked II It had come over IN me
vavaower had to give up some Of these things, so
far as one picture was concerned.
While was walking and gazing, Maria kept rev
stems I'm front OF me, and was continually aShhg II
II was time for her to keep still.
FINALLY planted my tripod in front Of the porch.
- camera was brought out and screwed the top.
Mrs Bennett Immediately began to show symptoms ol
uncaslness She said she s'posed she was FOOLISH out
tho minute she saw that came-na thing that minute
sbe was sure something would explode, and she ala
homo Maria wouldn't be hurt Mr.. Bennct, who stooh
somewhat retired with seriously attentive iace al
vised hs wife, she had any commonsense' 10 use IL
now and hold her tongue.
In the silence that followed this remark aimed the
camera and flung the black gossamcr cloth over my
head while essayed focus. The rules say great
deal depends upon this part Of the process and they
rclterate that you must be and take your Time 10
focr,: don't focus In hurry. BE deliberate.
remained under the cloth for a long time. II
seemed to me ! was under there an hour. nan
strong desire 10 stay there, II my limbs woud auo"
me until should distinguish something besides gross
darkness.
"Pont the camera at the view You desire TO take
and draw ont the cameraback until the view appears
inside down. sharply defined on the glass screen
Take time When the view Is shapest, faSten the
camera back
There was one thing I could do ] could take time.
The perspiraon burst forth my face at the thouSht
that perhaps time all could take.
The sun was very hot on my back, and 1T was quite
sufocaflng as well as dark under that gossamer No
me smoke near. but dlmly conscious OF
shutting as of feet and of human beings
When I was exhausted came out to breathe.
was going to say carelessly that had probably over
looked some direction for there no image OF any
kind the screen.
The instant emerged, Maria clapped her hands
and shouted: Is II donel Oh, let me see 1t"
The Bennes thought I taking the picture.
Mr. Bennett said he guessed that want one oil them
instantaneous ones.
did not say anything. I could not. There werc
at least a dozen people clustered behind me. could
have shot them all | could have shot Maria, for
knew that perfdious child must have fors"orh her
self and told.
4 small, very young. man In complete suit OF
strped flannel with russet leather shoes and an eX
trcmey bright silk scarf round his waist, stepped
forward and took off his cap. | knew this person
must be one of the boarders at the Ponerds's
house.
Pardon me- he said, but notice you haven't
taken of the cover"
1t was true. Instead OF looking through the
aperture onto the screen, had my eyes
fixed at the little black cover which shuts
the aperture. | thanked the young man
with subducd forocy that must have
alarmed him. for he blushed and walked away. Per
haps ne knew how 10 use a camera would not
ask him. could learn. could follow the dircc-
tons Did not my book say that by Obeying
directions could make picture having sharpness,
definition and dctail"2
1t must be pesky kind OF tryin on the nerves.
said voice from among the group of spectators.
u spose if we stand here. kinder behind We, we
don't cit in tho way of nothin' when it begins to take
do we - asked old woman who had pushed up to
within yard OF as l was preparing to 90 under
the gosSamcr again.
My tongue refused to frame civil reply and l
was silent. l flung the cloth over and drew 1t
tight round the end of the camera and my head
All! Now saw something: vague, ghastly, up
side down, but still something 1 kept drawing
out and pushing in. What was it I saw! Certainly
not the porch at which l had pointed; it appeared to
be- a goblin kind Of object, such as my eyes had
never rested on in this world. l cannot describe it,
and | never knew what it Perhaps it was
supernatural appearance which comes occasionally
to all amateurs. Perhaps it was warning not to
20 on. 1t was an UNDECIDED warning l must go
on. had the Photographic fever
moved the about on its screw; groped
ont with my hands and moved the legs Of the tripod
this way and that. I could have uttered cry Of
triumph when into the field Of my vision there came
the porch. True It the strangest kind Of "a
porch had ever seen. but l knew it. 1 made it
sharp that IS thought made it sharp.
When / came forth again assumed calm air Of
authority and said guessed I'd got about the right
focus now. on the evening before had placed two
instantaneous plates in the patcholder in a dark
room II | certain Of anything in this world
| was certain that white light had touched those
plates. / was thoroughly confident here.
| took ont the glass screen. put in the loaded
plateholder and thought did not joggle the camera
When | had done this | remembered that tho Bennett
family we're 10 be in group in front Of the porch.
I nlaced them. | removed the plate and put in the
ground glass screen and began focusing again; on
them this time All my movements we're followed
by audible remarks from the spectators 1t was
singular that thoy we're continually thinking after
each movement that " it. taken and about
10 show II 10 them. They expected this, nOtwth-
standing the fact that explained IN my plainest
language that no could anything until the
Plat. had been developed and ] should not develop
until the evening.
When / looked in at the group had arranged In
s..r-r-.nL ind L-aL lLnI.ch