The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-11-27
Details.

! 1t was q great trlal 10 Mrs. Bowen
that her son George was so careless.
He was just the best boy inthe
world, unselfish, obliging. kind,
generous, cheerful ,and, of course as Il
foundation for these qualities, he was
honest, truthful, and obedient. But
| he was so careless
For example: One day after Mrs.
Bowen had given him new pair of
pantaloons for every day. which she
hoped he would wear all winter, he
came into the kitchen from SNOWFALL
ing, and got so near the stove to warm
himself that hot cover just taken
from over the glowing Goals, and on a
line just below his waistband, burned
clean through both outside and lining
and scorched even his pockets, before
he perceived any mischief brewing.
What an unsightly patch had to cover
those new pantaloons, to be worn there
till they were worn-out!
Just that kind Of thing was always
happening to him. Finally, his moth
err, on comparing notes with other pa
rents. decided that George was lack
ing mechanical aptitudes and needed
lessons in handicraft. Scroll saws
were Just then coming into use, and
she got him q scrool saw, or rather he
earned one for himself distributing adj
vertisements. In using the scroll saw,
George learned, a great many lessons
in delicate handling he learned to
saw true to the pattern. to finish and
polish and put together his scroll work
in very credtahle manner. He
learned to keep his tool-chest in order,
his machine oiled and in perfect rum
ming condition. and, along with thi-,
he became more orderly and careful in
other things. He took better care of
his clothes, he became more exact IN
his language and manners, and devel-
oped nicely Of touch and q facility
of manipulation that soon afterward
was of great service to him. For,
when he entered the chemistry class
at the academy, his teacher requested
GEORGES assistance in conducting the
experiments at the lectures given be-
fore the class.
When amateur photography became
the fashion, George got him camera
and diligently applied himself to the
study of photography. Perhaps there
is nothing that requires more delicacy
of manipulation in all its processes
than making a perfect Photographic
picture. Associating himself with
other amateurs, George after time
became quite an expert, and his port
folia was filled with beautiful views OF
mountain and lake and sea-shore, ta-
ken during his vacations. But by
this time professional cares made it
difficult for him to print and finish his
pictures, and he proposed to his
mother that, as she was quite at
leisure, she should learn this
mart of the work and do it for him.
She had sunny rooms and running
water in the kitchen, and she was en-
pert in many kinds of handicraft.
Very gladly did she place herself un-
der Georges tutelage. She was lit
tie amused when her son opened his
structions with this remark: "Pho-
Biography, my dear mother, iseminent-
ly a matter of details. Every stage in
the process must be conducted with ex-
actest care if the best results are realiz-
ed." And he went on specifying, as
the practical lesson proceeded, points
to be guarded and errors to be avoided
in various stages Of process. The nee
essity of keeping every thing in place
was descanted,on then necessity of alb
solute avoidance of mixing solutions
and processes that are to be kept apart
was more than hinted at.
Georges mother listened with de-
light as her son went on and showed
how thoroughly he appreciated that
only by a mastery of details, by nice
discrimination, by delicate handling,
by implicit obedience to optic and
chemical laws, can one hope or expect
to achieve success in photography.
Said George, at is all question of
Details"
''I was so surprised to learn that he
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