The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-10-09

| Piafcu an innocent game Of poker with
the stakes limited; tho time was when
his aspirations led him &, believe that
sometime he might find himself seated
among highly moral people around q
baccarat table; but. alas. all these as
pirations We're now gone, and his mind
was wholly taken up with photog-
raphy His nights were spent in 4
darkroom. surrounded by bottles tina,
glittered ominously In the fen iish red
light which pervaded the unventilated
apartment With trembling hand and
with graduated glassraised up against
this demon light. II . person could now
have seen John Smith, he would have
seen him pouring from . bottle labeled
NO. 50 many ounces of fluid and from
bottle labeled No. so many more
ounces and then from adropping bottle
20 many drops, until the graduating
glass was filled 70 its highest mark.
This was how John Smith was spend
ing his nights; but he took care that
no one saw what he was az. for he
locked the door firmly behind him and
ne arranged the room 50 that not Z
chance was visible for the most ina uis.
tive eye TO peer in at his ncfarious
work.
| II was his kind hearted employer
who first realized his change Of con-
duct II was old Mr.. Robinson who
noticed his restless eye. heated with
the red light Of his midnight avocation.
John" said Mr.. Robinson, placing
his hand kindly on the young mans
shoulder. how do you spend your
evenings"
John started, and his once direct looh
evaded the see rching eye Of his en-
ployer. Then he began to shuttle.
Sometimes | 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. I noticed
you poured the ink from the large bot.
tie into the small one. As II you were
measuring It. What were you doing
last night?"
John was silent. but finally he said.
in low voice: II was developing pic.
lures"
"Ahr' said his employer. II feared
as much saw the photograph on
your desk the other day so badly taken
that knew an amateur had done L.
feared that amateur was YOU Now,
John. take the warning Of an old man.
and brace up while 1t is yet time. You
can stop it If you only think so. Prom
ise me that after this you will never
look upon the developer when ii is red. !"
when il Is very red" said John,
evasivcly, lit Is next to useless. and
when II turns black il is no good at all "
Very likely. very likely" said the
old man. II don't pretend to be "a
miliar with those Things; but promise
me that you will stop it,
WELL said John. II will promise
you to photograph more in moderation
in the future"
''Ah" exclaimed the old gentleman
bitterly, shaking his head. .srnodera-
ton Is the rock that many a young
man has split on. Moderate photogra-
ply soon leads TO immoderate photogra-
ply. Drop il altogether. John. Prom.
ise me that you will" And John. with
q sigh, made his promise, and really 1T
that time intended to keep it
Perhaps he might have been able to
have kept his promise IL IL had not
been for the numerous photographers
shops that line our principal thorough
fares with gaudy and enticing wares
No one but hardened photographers
knows how difficult these shops are to
pass John Smith felt the danger Of
lingering before their windows and re-
sisted hard the temptation 70 enter and
ask for price list; but one day In .
window he saw . glazing announce
ment Of new developer, with the inti-
nation that one-ounce samples were
given away on trial. He 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 IL wouldn't do any
harm 70 try the new developer upon
them. But, unfortunately. - 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 il the country pho.
tographinR the upper reaches Of the
Thames When he reached his Office ~
found another in his place.
you have broken your word" said
old Mr.. Robinson; III you can also
break your habit, come back 20 me and
I'll see what can do for you"
The young man laughed wildly and |
left the place.
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 pleadings Of his family |
were in vain. The advice Of friends |
was laughed 70 scorn. Every penny Of |
money that he could beg or borrow he |
spent In developers and plateA 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
his branch Of human dcpravity. But
ct it be lesson TO those who glibly
,ffer advice 70 young fellows on pho
and start them on quarter
plate career that may have . ten by
.welve ending. Luke sharp. in De-
roit Free Press