Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-15
LIGHTS AND SHADOWS.
Attractive Exhibits at the Photogra-
piers Convention.

It is q dangerous thing for the Photographic
amateur to go into the stock exhibit at the
photographers convention at the Nationa
Museum, for il he is not unusually wary he Gill
soon spend all Of his patrimony in purchasing
the things for the advancement, instruc-
ton and convenience Of the fellows Of his craft,
both professional and amateur, that are dis
played there. 1t is. indeed, a most interesting
show Of the most advanced ideas in mechanics
and chemistry, and appeals to the heart and
purse of every lover of and worker in pho
Biography who wanders there. An immense
amount OF matter has been crowded into q very
small space, and there would have been tons
more II there had been the room. As it was the
managers of the exhibit found il necessary to
let it run over from the east gallery. which had
been assigned for that purpose and to use a
part OF the lecture hall for the show Of goods.
THE STOCK DEALERS
form large and powerful factor In the associa-
ton. for they are, IN a great measure, men of
wealth and influence. while their patrons, the
gallery men. are Just about making their livings
and 80 il is that this class always turns out well
at convention There Is an understanding
that the Offices of the association shall be filled
BY professional photographers rather than
stock men. the latter class having been adj
mitted to the ranks after the original organize
ton. But they keep IN the background and
on occasions their influence is thrown to one
side or the other and their power Is felt. Yes
terday Mr.. Cramer, the famous dry-plate man.
ufacturer of ST. Louis, turned the tide of feel
ing in favor of the Daguerre memorial commit
tee limits fnancia. straits by donating $500 to
the fund.
THE EXHIBITS.
The stock exhibit consists Of almost every
conceivable appliance and device known to the
craft aud great many that have never been
heard of before this convention. For in
stance there is a Washington man among those
who have goods on exhibition. Mr.. William
Schneider shows an entirely novel camera that
has attracted general attention and which is in
competition for the prize for the best inven-
ton. 1t IL magazine camera, 30 arranged
that the plates. of which a dozen are carried,
are changed after exposure by the simple pull
ing out and III again of a small light-tight door
at the rear OF the machine. The operation is
quickly done and the camera is all ready for
another shot. The plates drop from the front
of the magazine to the rear by means of an
ingenious arrangement of springs. and each
being fitted with a small brass plate holder
there is no da ig, of accidental exposure.
The box is very small. about nine inches long
by five square. and quite light. dozen plates
can be carried i'll magazine, and as many ex-
ira loaded magazines can be slowed away in
ones satcheI as desired. 1t has been formally
dubbed The Genie"
Pullman is the only other Washington ex-
nlDltOE III THIS having y large
space filed with all sorts of goods.
THE DRY-PLATE MEN
take up most of the room. They cannot. of
course. show their actual goods, for they are
Of that nature called 'perishable," and the
only way to exhibit their excellence is to show
what sort of work they can do by means of pho
tOgraphs they have taken. Therefore the ex-
hlbits of these firms consist of great spaces of
wall covered with photographs taken by all
sorts of artists.
The nest i'll order in the way of room con-
sumption is the background man, who has
erected a number of square frames. on which he
has hung his favOrite grounds arranged so that
they can be slid along or raised to show one
after another. Some of the firms hire BOYS
whose sole duty Is to run these screens up and
down or back and forth while the agents or
statesmen stand in front and eXpatiate upon the
advantages OF this or that for certain poses and
styles of pictures. The main exhibit in this
line is from New York. The exhibit forms
most attractive section in the balcony at the
east end of the main corridor running east and
west. Here are all sorts of accessories. chairs.
trees. screens, cabinets logs. dilapidated gates,
all of papier mache. Nature and furniture are
initiated to the highest degree of stimulation,
all with the idea OF giving the best effects in a
photograph.
LITERARY STOCK MEN.
These stock men have produced an enormous
amount of literature since they have been here,
and have literally covered the chairs of the
lecture hall with pamphlets. circulars and other
means of telling folks what sort of goods they
handle. The most active men In this line, how
ever, are the journalists. the representatives of
the many trade papers, who always appear in
large plumbers at any event or this sort Some
OF these papers have issued very handsome
numbers for the convention, especially the
Photographic Times, which published several
pages about the halls of the museum and sew
eral others abOut WaShinUtOD Others
whose editors or managers are at the conven-
tiOn are the ST. Louis Photographer the Pho
tographic Globe, the Photographic Herald the
Eye and AnthOny's Bulletin. The portrait of
President Appleton. printed in The STAR We'd
nesday. was reproduced from an excellent piece
of work III the Times
AGAINST LEGALIZING MURDER