The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-12-19
A PERSONAL MATTER.
JunIus Henri Browne Il Proud to- Pc I'm
photographed
Especial Correspondence

photographed
Especial COrrespOndence.I
NEW YORK, Nov. IA few days ago
received the following note from the man
aging editor OF large newspaper syndi-
cate in this city:
1--WE have an article prepared about you
which we shall soon Use. We should like
very much TO have IL accompanied by a
cut OF yourself Will you kindly give
bearer photograph for our use I'm making
the illustration, for which / take the liber-
ty Of thanking you in advance?"
1t IS always hard 10 refuse polite re-
quest, particularly when 10 is supposed t.
be flattering. i was compelled 10 refuse
this one from the fact, which mentioned
in reply, that 1 had no photograph, and
thai such n thing, SO far rs knew, was
not in existence. / also informed the
courteous editor that i should much pre-
fer that he should not publish the article
referred to, though I had 10 right, a. 1
was aware. TO insist on my preference In
these days it seems To DO the privilege OF
ybody 20 print what he chooses about
anybody, and most OF US, I admit what
ever our assumptions, really like 10 unless
the printed article happens to be III natur-
ed or abusive. Most OF us, too, are fond
of having our photographs taken and see
ing them reproduced in newspapers and
periodicals.
presume that i have fully the average
amount of self love, perhaps even more,
but am not interested in my own per
sonal presentment or in witnessing its
multiplication; hence am photograph
less creature and expect to continue so to
the end. know that any man who has
ever written n line will be asked for his
photograph-tho asking has long ceased
TO be- a compliment-andt that the easiest
To- ha h.a 70 taf.
counterfeited, is To abstain from the luxury
of being photographed. am sure have
saved myself considerable trouble by this
sagacious course, for all ink fiends will be
periodically importuned TO furnish their
photographs. They can't escape It any
more than they can escape death, defama-
ton, the measles or the interviewing re-
porter. But il one has never faced a cam
era one need not fear facing the public on
a printed page. What has never been dono
cannot be duplicated
/ do not condemn photography or pho
tographins. ON the contrary, I approve
OF it, generally and particularly. L think
&c excellent for all concerned. \ photo
graph l. the best advertisement possible, a.
players. politicians, lecturers and show
men OF every grade have long known.
People like to look ut photographs, and
photographs, one may fancy, like To be
sal passion for photography. No man
seems to be too poor To pay for photo
graphs of himself Some persons appear
10 spend a good part of their income in
buying them. The mortal without a pho
tograph would seem To- be is forlorn as a
man without n name, an enemy or n coun-
try. photographs are the signs OF the
times, tho symptoms OF the popular feel
ing. Tho whole world delights in photo
graphs and refuses to- fOrego them.
Why then, some one may ask, do you
forcgo thems The simplest answer is be-
cause prefer To. l have my own theory
ON this topic. For many years, since
first dipped myself in ink, have had re-
quests for my photograph, and they have
invariably been denied. Some persons
have taken my denial seriously. They
have undertaken to- show me that NY de
cision was wrong; that il WAS opposed to
my interest that me- who cares To succeed
should exploit himself i'm every possible
manner. 4 granted that. Then / was
gravely informed that everybody sent pho
tographs when asked. Ny answer was
that am not everybody; / am my uuprt-
tending self alone. Being plainly regard |
Ell ~ affected or eccentric, the subject Wa |
discontinued, only To DO revived ana ar |
que, On the next occasion.
Two classes of persons. | hold, shp,.!I
not circulate their likencsSCs-thusc who |
are handsome and those who are plain,
lest they be- charged with vanity. -'Oh.
it Is because you are so plain. them inn
agine hear. I may be like Tom MpDrp's
MOkanna, who, his followers claimed,
wore perpetual veil to- hide his dazzling
brightness. But the sequel proved, "a
will bc r'mcmbcreti. that ne concealed nj,
face bcause 10 had been terribly distigurcI
In battle.
Some idea Of my dazzling brightness
may be- gained 10y story / have often
told, which, I own, j. embroidered. Nut
long agO while sitting UP with .. sics.
friend he seeded lnusIlnuru, and ~ fhcr,
was none in the house | went uut for
some ut u. IN. / rang up an adjacent
druggists clerk and made my want
known. lie hcsitHted about giving it to
me, wherUupOu | said, DO you think
intend tO commit suicide1" tie studied
my countcnance and replied. If looked
like you, I'm sure / should -
i decline for the nOucc % proclaim
whether resemble I'm aspect AntinOus or
Esop, though the fact IS necessarily 10
Iniliar to all who have seen me. IL hand
some, should withhold my photograph.
III ugly, / should withhold IL likewise /
cannot now conceive any circumstances
under which / should circulate it. 1 envy
those who dO and can. IL I were they,
should initiate them. II they were ].
they would initiate me.
Is IL not vanity that inspires me- The
great majority Of men she'd photographs a.
iutumual trees their leaves. May not
hope To bc considered original by not shed
ling them, Human conceit is bOundless.
To be an unphotOgraphcd mortal Is TO en-
Oy n vast solitude.
JUSIUS HENRI BROWNE