St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1891-11-28

d1c& Il xas Old Mr. RoAanssa -
noticed his restless eye, heated with
the red light Of his midnight avoeation.
''John." ssid Mr.. Robinson, placing
his hand kindly on the young man's
shoulder. 'show do you spend your
evenings?"
John started. and his once direct look
evaded the searching eye of his EN-.
plover. Then he began 70 shufle.
Sometimes I am doing one thing.
sometimes another" he said.
Tell me. John" continued his EN-.
ployer. "what You were doing last
night Your face is haggard, your eye
is restless and bloodshOt l noticed
you poured the ink from the large bot
tie into the small one, rs il you werc
measuring it What were you doing
last night?" E-
John was silent, but finally he said,
in . low voice: Il was developing pic
lures"
"Ah-' said his a.nrloyer. ~ feared
rs much. saw tae photograph on
your desk the other day SO badly taken
that knew IN amateur had done it I
feared that amateur was you. Now.
John. take the warning of an old man.
and brace up while it is yet time. You
can stop it il you only think So Prom
Use me that after this you will never
look upon the developer when it is red. "
"When it is very red" said John,
evasively, lit is next to useless. and
when it turns black it is no good at all. "
every likely, very likely" said the
old man. II don't pretend to be IA
miliar with those Things; but promise
me thai you will stop it."
"Wcn," said John. 81 will promise
you to photograph more in moderation
in the future" -.
'Ah.' exclaimed the old gentleman
bitterly, shaking his head, ''moders-
ton is the rock that many young
man has split on. Moderate photoRra-
ply soon leads to immoderate photoGfa-
ply. Drop it altogether. John. Prom
Use me thai. yos viii" And John, with
sigh. made his promise, and really at
thst time intended to keep it -sss-
Perhaps he might have been able to
have kept his promise If It had not
been for the numerous photographers
shops that line our principal thorough
fares with gaudy and enticing wareA
No one but hardened photographer
knows how difficult these shops are to
pass. John Smith felt the danger Of
lingering before their windows and re-
sisted hard the temptation to enter and
ask for price list; but one day in .
window he saw . glarinR announce
ment of . new developer. with the init
nation that one-ounce samples were
given away on trial. lie hesitated and
was lost He went in and got . sample
of the new poison. He said to himself
that he had just three plates still unde.
veloped and that it wouldn't do any
harm to try the new developer upon
them. But unfortunately, rs too often
happens, his passion for photography
came upon him with increased violence,
and that sample ended in . wild photo
graphic debauch. during which he was
absent three days in the country pho
tographing the upper reaches Of the
Thames When he reached his Office he
found another in his place.
"You have broken your word" said
old Mr.. Robinson; IF you can also
break your habit, come back to me aud
I'll see what can do for you"
The young man laughed wildly and
left the place. g4RVFF
There is no use in dwelling longer
upon the career of Mr.. John Smith.
Everyone knows just what happened.
because it is the inevitable that always
happens The plesdings Of his family
were in vain. The advice of friends
was laughed TO scorn. Every penny Of
money that he could beg or borrow he
spent in developers and plates He
would pawn his last shirt for glass Of
hydroquinone and water. That he will
ever reform even his most intimate
friends do not believe, because the
Salvation Army has not yet taken mp
this branch of human depravity. But
let Il be . lesson TO those who glibly
offer advice to young fellows on pho.
Biography. aud start them on . quarter.
plate career that may have . ten BY
twelve ending.-Luks Sharp. in De-
tvo;f Free Press