San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-04-27
LOOK PLEASANT PLEASE
AN OLD CHICAGO PHOTOGRAPHS
RELATES HIS EXPERIENCES.

tie Has Had Many Prominent Citizens and
Distinguished Visitors Before His Cam
era-LittIe Exhibitions of Vanity Occa-
sionaIIy Seen in Great Men.
The price doesn't cut much of a figure in
the photograph business nowadays" said
well known photographer the other day.
Time was when the price was everything,
now it's the quality of the work. People are
getting educated up to the point of knowing
good work when they see it, and you can't
FOOL them Except when it comes to making
en better looking than they are, then every
man, woman and child in the country is
ready to'be deceived.
''Only the other day a popular clergyman
came in here for some pictures. Heis mau
somewhat advanced in years, and his face
shows it. He said: Now want these pict-
ures to show me just as | ammo tomfooery.'
[ had diagnosed my man, and after he left
instructed my best retoucher to go over the
parsons plate just as deliberately as he could,
TO obliterate every wrinkle and make the
picture just as young as he knew how.
When the finished photos were handed the
clergyman he examined them long and low
ingly. There, he said, is the first decent
photograph | have ever had Then, after
another careful scrutiny, However, you
might retouch them-just a little
VAIN SUBJECT.
Then there's another man, millionaire,
and one of the greatest reputation in the
west. He is no longer young, and never was
handsome, but he has the most extraordinary
penchant for his own picture imaginable.
One would think he had something more
70 do
himself photographed all the time, but the
man actually comes down here at least every
two weeks and orders fresh lot of pictures.
never saw anything like it. The last time
he was here he had his pockets all bullying
out with varied assortment he had just got
IN New York, and he spread them out for my
edifcation, and seemed to gloat over them
like one possessed. Can you do as wellF he
inquired. l. of course, said, Yes and he
forthwith ordered 100 more He always
orders the new proof brought around to his
Office When go around with it he rings
bell, and the whole Office force, from the
chief clerk down to the elevator boy, come
trailing in. How do you like itr he de
mands, and looks around 50 as to include
everybody in the room Usually they an
swer in chorus, Splendid! the best YETI But
the crowd and they all shake their heads:
Don't do you justice, Mr.. Blank; Hardly
enough breadth of forehead and so on That
damns the pictures, and they have to be done
all over again.
Chester A Arthur was a great stickler
for looks He was up here three hours once,
at the time of the convention which norli
mated him for vice president He was a
full OH nc Irac
submitted ten proofs to him, and he scruti-
nized them as closely as if they were weighty
documents of state. He discarded seven of
them because the arrangement Of the hair
didn't quite please him. 4 want you to de-
stroy those at once he said; they make me
appear like negro minstrel
"Ihad Abe Lincoln here several times dur
ing his campaign with Douglas. What tall,
awkward man he wasI His hair looked as if
it had never seen comb, apd his clothing
hung on him like the traditional bag on a
boanstalk He never looked at the proofs and
didn't care the least how his pictures looked"
do you Femember any other celebrated
sitterS2"
George Macdonald the author was here
once several years before his death. The
Rev. Robert Laird Collier bought him up
lis N'l CS>o was ltNNLRSF anu IC IlltiNIc
picturesque subject with his long hair and
fine head. He brought his wife and thirteen
children on his visit to this country, and
every blessed one of them came to the studio
with him No wonder he could write such
charming books Cor children; he surely had
inspiration enough He was a jolly old gen
tieIIian and Kept us all laughing continually.
GRANT AND SHERIDAN
Il have taken host of pictures of Gen.
Grant, He was quiet little man. remeni-
Der Ike he'd a habitual habit of keeping his
hand in his trousers pocket. 1t worried me
a good deal, because you know it isn't just
the thing for an elegant pose. | finally vent
ured to suggest that he might assume a more
dignitcd position. oh, | guess this is good
enough, be said carelessly, my hand is in my
pocket most Of the time anyhow
Then. there was Sheridan He was the
worst subject l ever bad. Austere and cold
rs an iciclc Wouldn't let me touch him He
would come up rugged ont in all the bravery
Of full dress uniform, and it seemed as if his
demeanor was part Of his. dress He had a
short neck and q heavy chin, and it was hard
=, Il. a" sos ~ "'u Nss oi!S