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

-uugu AoSlI, IN GOoo housekeeping.
A SAD LESSON.
Story OF the Downward Career
OF Mr.. John Smith.
m placing before the public certain
details of a mans life it is usual not to
give the mans name. especially il the
details before mentioned can hardly be
set down to his credit But where q
great moral lesson is to be taught, I
think it always best to give the correct
name il possible, SO that others may
see the story is true, and take warning
from = career that has beeen ship
wrecked on rocks which, II properly
pointed out, they may svoid. In this
instance have the permission Of the
mans relatives to give his true lame;
and I think, as = rule, you win find
that = persons relatives are always
willing TO give his name il the Incl
dents to be recorded are discreditable
to him. Our dear friends ore always
first to recognize our faults. bless 'em:
that is, bless the friends Of course,
not the faults.
The name Of this man whose sad ca
reer have to depict was Smith, and
his first name was John. OF course
the friends and relatives of Mr.. John
Smith have long been aware of the
facts which have 70 relate; and 80, Is
Me. smith himself said to me the other
day. 1T doesn't matter much whether
the general public knows the particu-
lars or not" Igot Mr.. Smiths per
mission TO use his name by giving him
a shilling, which strongly advised
him to spend in food He laughed
hoarsely at this advice and l saw him
stink away through the crowd and
finally dive into . Photographic deal
cr's shop. where he expended the shil-
ling for bottle Of pyrogallic acid,
which bottle he nervously concealed
about his person and then disappeared
down the street.
John Smith rs the draper clerk he was
q few years ago. when he used to come
to the city from one of the suburbs
every morning. and be in his Office
pnpmptly 1t nine o'clock. Mr.. John
Smith 1t that time was . model young
man. the pride Of his parents, and .
man who was recognised by his fellow
clerks as one who vas sure 20 rise.
He was . young mea q Tie most
irreproachable habits, which il saying
q good deal for city person. He was
temperate in all his tastes. and he did
not speculate. which. when you come
to thinx Of il, Is saying still more for .
city person.
One day . friend (Jones) said 70 him:
''Smith, what are you going to do
with your next hal1.Saturday?"
.Oh, l don't know" said Smith,
carelessly; ''probsbly 60 mp the river"
Don't do it. Come with me out in
the country. I've got . camera, and
we'll take some photographs"
.Oh. but" answered Smith, u don't
know anything at al about Asssg-
raphy."
"You don't need to-" replied Tie
other, who was . careless. good-na-
tured kind of . person. Jones thought
because he could b moder ate in pho
Biography that every body had like
self-control. IAN you have to do is to
stand as show you how TO stand, and
I will Photograph you with various
backgrounds and give You some Of the
pictures"
fs.:An right, answered Smith; II don't
mid IL do"
Every well. said Jones; ''be It Fem
church Street station IS soon after two
o'clock on Saturday afternoon Is you
ca be-"
And Smith was there. Together
they went out Epping Forest way and
Jones set up his camera, delved his
head under the black cloth, waved his
hand for Smith to stand this side or
that, and thus numerous photographs
were taken, with various picturesque
backgrounds, and the invariable Smith
In different attitudes in the fore
ground.
Smith showed some little interest in
The art of photography and once put
his head under the black cloth.
by Jove!" he cried, with the air Of
. man who had made = startling dis
covery, 'this blooming things upside
down! To look at this picture makes
. fellow feel as If he was standing on
his head"
''Oh. yes" said Jones. its always
that way, you know"
well, it doesn't surely need TO Be
always that way" replied Smith; |
''why don't you turn the camera over
and have the picture right side up"
At this Jones laughed somewhat
and explained to smith the idiosyn-
cracies of landscape lens Smith was
very much interested. and 1t last Jones |
said to him:
81 say. Smith, why don't you 90 in
for photography? Get . small camera !
to start with and you'll find Il awfully |
Jolly during your holidays. It doesnt |
cost much. either. and is very anple |
to learn. I'll show you al there b |
a0out it,
Smith said he thought Re eouldDt
afcrd a camera
s'Nell. Eve got little quarter-plats
Genera Ill let you have. don't - &
III lend it to you for rs long - youj
wfnt it, and it's always better 20 StaEt4
With small camera. snvhow." -
Smith said he would think about IL
aid there the natter Gbooa. He 1
t5pug ht very little Of Photography nm
Il one morning he got . package If
photographs from Jones. all nicely
mounted, with himself in the fore /
gPund of each picture. He took that
home. and showed the pictures 70 his
mother and sisters, and they al agreed
that they were very Hica Of course ]