The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-07-09
THE Bitter BITTEN.
A San Leandro BIacksmith's Photo
graphic Joke Recoils Upon Himself

San Leandro BIacksmith's Photo
graphic Joke Recoils Upon Himself
Everybody residing across the bay and
many on this side who occasionally drive or
take walk along the San Leandro road
knows or has heard of that genial practical
joking blacksmith and horseshoer Billy
Fields. For a long time past he has been
nicknamed THE Village Chestnut" owing
TO the antediluvian nature of many of his
practical jokes. Sometimes they possess
novelty and sometimes they rec0il with
double force upon the bead of their perpe-
TRAITOR.
Among the latest of the joker's efforts,
which has caused the farrer some little
trouble and annoyance, is the following.
| which was told by a leading San Francisco
photographer to a CALL reporter yesterday;
II live over in Alameda" said he, land am
an cid customer of Billy Fields. He has
ShOd my horses and looked after my car
rlage repairs for long time pas, and has
consequently grown familiar with my habits
and business.
The other day Fields, thinking to play off
little joke upon me, rugged uD sort of
stage property camera out of an old
cracker box. fixed tin canister in one end
for the lens and an imitation plate
holder in the other. This outfit placed on a
rough tripod ard covered over with huge
piece OF carpet completed the first part OF
the village chestnuts' preparations.
Then he procured a huge earicature Of a
man with an asses head taking photographs.
and pasted 1t on board. A sign was
painted and placed outside the backsmith's
shop: instantaneous photographs taken in
any style 10 centS-no tintypeS Billy. the
artist The versatile Billy then arranged
with the keeper of a neighborng hosiery
TO work ME up into proper shape for the
PLAYING off upon me of the Joke.
''TheGext time | drove along the road,
one day last week, l was accosted by the
salOOn-keeper, who said: It's a bad Job
| about Billy Fields, isn't it?' 'How's that?
said |. We'll, he can't get enough shoeing
to make a living, SO he has gone into your
| line of business, got a camera from San
Francisco, and is doing instantaneous
work, aud very good, ton. considering the
price, 10 cents head Very surprised |
| asked him TO tell Fields to bring up the
camera and | would advise him in some
little points. l was, however, invited down
to dark room, and when the curtains
were drawn aside | saw | had been duped.
| The kerS, however. persisted in carrying
out their performance with much grave
ceremony and presented me with the carl
cature portrait. amid the laughter of the
small crowd who had received pointer on
the affair, and had dropped in TO witness my
discontinue.
Determined not to let Fields get away
with ME so easily. on my return home | in-
serted an advertisement in the local news
paper TO the effect that the blacksmith had
opened uD a studio. and was prepared to
take pictures for three months of all and
everyone who chose TO call, instantaneous
and free Hf charge, Just to establish his busi-
ness. Ny idea to get back at the volatile
joker mad proven a good 0ne Every day
since the advertisement appeared poor
Fields has been besieged with callers, men,
women and children, for free portraits. So
many have visited his shop that he has been
unable to properly attend 10 his legitimate
business. II is a clear case of the bitter bit,
and | think will stop the practical jesting
of the village chestnut for some time to