The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-11-17

tHlS one 1rOlfl the TACT winch inenNlcHeC
. in reply, that had no photograph, and
that such a thing, so far as 1 knew, was
not in existence 1 also informed the
courteous editor that should much pre-
fer that he should not publish tie a-1icie
referred 70, though l had no right. as
was aware, to insist on my preference IN
these days il seems 10 BE tie privilege OF
every body to print what he chooses about
ANY body, and most of US, admit, what
ever our assumptions, really like il unless
the printed article happens 10 be IL natUr
ed or abusive. Most Of Us, too. are fond
OF having our photographs taken and SCI
ing them reproduced in newspapers and
periodicals.
presume that l 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 a photograph
less creature and expect 10 continue 80 -
the end ! know that any man who has
ever written line Will DO asked for his
photograph-the asking has long ceased
10 be d comPIiment-and that the easiest
thing for him. if he be unwilling 70 be
counterieitcd. i 70 abstain from the luxury
OF being photographed. l am sura have
saved myself considerable trouble by this
sagacious course, for ali ink fiends VIII be
periodically inpo-Iuned 10 furnish their
photographs They can't escape it any
more than they can escape death. aefama-
ton, the measles or the interviewing re-
porter. But II one has never faced a cam
era one need not fear facing the public On
printed page What has never been done
cannot ne duplicated.
do not condemn photography or pho
toCraphing. On the contrary, 1 approve
Of II, generally and particularly i mink
il excellent for all concerned. \ photo
graph i the hest advertisement possible as
players. politicians. lecturers and show
men of every grade have long known.
People like To LOOK at photo graphs. and
photographs. one may fancy, like 10 be
looked at. There is . genuine and univer-
sal passion for photography. No man
seems 10 be too pour To pay for photo
graphs of himself some persons appear
10 spend good part Of Their income IN
buying them The mortal without pho
tograph would seem 10 be is forlorn Ia
man without name. an enemy or q couu-
try. Photographs are the signs Of the
times, the symptoms Of the popular feel
ing. The whole world delights in photo
graphs and refuses to farego them
Why then, some one may ask, do you
forego them, The simplest answer is be
cause | prefer To. ! have my own theory
Oh this topic For many years. since /
first dipped myself IN ink, l have had "
quests for my photograph, and they have
invariably been denied. Some persons
have taken my denial seriously They
have undertaken 10 show me that my de
cision was wrong; that 1t was opposed 20
my interest; that he who cares 20 succeed
should exploit himself in every possible
manner. / granted that. Then / was
gravely informed that everybody sent pho
toCraphs when asked. My answer YVES
that / am not every body; / am my UMPIRE
tending self alone. Being plainly egard-
ed as affected or eccentric, the subject was
discontinued, only to be revived ana ar
gued on the next occasion.
Two classes of persons / hold should
not circulate their Hkonesses-thOse who
are handsome and those who are plain,
lest they be charged with vanity. ''Oh,
it is because you are 20 plain. them" i'm
agine | hear. ! may be like Tom MoOre's
Nokanna, who, his followers claimed,
wore perpetual veil 10 hide his dazzling
brightness But the sequel proved, as
Will be remembered, that lac concealed his
faco bcause IL had been terribly dishgured
In battle
Some idea OF my dazzling brightness
may be gained by a story | have often
told, which, / own, * embroidered Not
long ago while sitting up with a sick
friend he needed laudanum, and d. there
was none in the house i went ont FOR
some nj 3 q IN / rang up AN adjacent
druggist clerk and made my want
known He hcsitatcd about giving IL To
me, whereupOn / said, DO you think |
intend 70 commit suicidc;' He studied
my countenance and replied, III l looked
like you, I'm sure | should.
l decline for the nonCo 10 proclaim
whether / resemble in aspect Antinous or
Hsop, though the fact is necessarily IN
rniliar To all who have seen me. II hand
some. / should withhold my photograph.
II ugly. ! should withhold 1t likewise l
cannot now conceive any circumstances
under which ! should circulate It. l envy
those who DO and can. II / were they. I
should initiate them. II they were /.
they would initiate me.
Is il not vanity that inspires me- The
great majority Of men shed photographs as
aUtumnal trees their leaves May | not
hope 10 be considered Origin nal by not shed
ding thcm' Human cOnceit j. bJuudless.
To be an unphotographCd mortal IS ~ en-
Joy a vast solitude.
JUNIUs HENRI BROWNE.