The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1894-07-05
THE PHOTOGRAPHER.

better than an ANNOYANCE. He has be-
come a necessity One half the world
sees the other half through the eyes of
a Kodak Nor is the Photographer :
occupation in any sense degrading. He
is a Scientist in his way. He lives
closer than most men to the beating
| heart of nature He knows one of her
most cunning secrets. Light is his
friend, and he is the friend Of Light.
He lends to the light of knowledge his
creations And the light of the sun
lends him the power to create
AS Phillips Brooks says, Behind
every specific action of man there is
some one of the more elemental and
primary forces of the universe-everv-
thing, every work, every trade. every
occupation is simply the utterance of
some one of those great forces which
lie behind all life" In the work of the
Photographer Light utters her voice
and every form and fashion surrenders
It's beauty. To every department of
Science the Photographer is an inval-
liable ally. In Microscopy, Engrav-
ing, Astronomy his work is an essential
clement. In literature he puts the
truth with aplainness impossible to the
most skillful pen
Journalism more and more depends
| upon him to convey to the public mind
the thoughts and images which shape
and mould public opinion.
History, too, honors him on every
page and he honors history. By his
aid we know tie men of the past. Not
merely their thoughts and deeds but
| their personalities. We see a Shakes
peare, Milton, Dante. We march
with Napoleon. We converse face to
face with Wellington. No great man
since the 10Th century is a stranger.
Thus is there kept up between the
dead and the living an unbroken ac-
quaintance which solidlfies history and
maintains the power of physical inhn-
enc upon humanity
In the detection and prevention Of
crime. Law must needs bow to the Pho
| tographer The Rogue Gallery in New
York is terror to evil doors. 1t is
also the University in which detectives
! learn their lessons.
superintendent Byrnes of the New
York police force pays the highest trib
ute to its usefulness in detecting cGImi-
mails. Says he, ''There are people who
look at the pictures and say 'Of what
good can these twisted and unnatural
faces be?' Were their owners met in
the streets their countenances Woulu
be composed and altogether free of
those contortions by which they have
tried to cheat the purpose of the police
in Photographing them. " 1t is a mis-
take to suppose that no one would
know them. The very cleverest crimi-
nails who have distorted their features
into a false physiognomy for the Cam
era have made their grimaces in vain.
The Photographer has been too quick
| for them and has imprisoned the lines OF
the profile and the features and caught
certain peculiarities that could not be
disguised \ small photograph has
been the only clue TO many a great
crime.
can think of no man who comes
nearer ombining the usefulness of all
professions in one. And none with
whose services we could with more loss
dispense. As have been thinking Of
the Photographer | have thought OF Il
thousand other mentionabie ways IN
which he contributes to the welfare.
progress and happiness o. Society. i
cannot enumerate them now.
He is preacher. He does more for
us than Abraham would do for tie
brethren of Dives He br.s IS tie dead
back to speak to Us. 10 warn us aud -
encourage Us.
There was q few wears ago a certain
bov at a certain College in this State.
Many influences invited him from the
path Of duty and sohrlety. He was o.
tentimes soreiy tempted. But on hi
mantei stood the picture Of bis mother
who was dead. Her eyes always looked
out to him as living eyes and her lips
spoke powerful language. Many and
many time alone he stretched his
arm upon the wall above her head and
gazed upon her face to get the strength
when sorely pressed to withstand, be
| ca,7Se she said in that silent WAY with