The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1896-12-03
THE CAMERA KNEW.
WHY THE PHOTOGRAPHERS COULDN'T
eETA GOOD NEGATIVE.


tion Before the Eye Could See It-It
Showed In This Case That "Beauty Is
Only Skin Deep" and the Skin Was Thin.
The following remarkable story is
vouched for by we'll known clerical
gentleman Of this city. who always has
a fund Of amusing yarns at his tongues
end which are new and entertaining.
Some time ago handsome and inter-
esting society woman entered the studio
Of famous metropolitan photographer
for the purpose of having her lovely
features perpetuated upon cardboard.
The artist knew his client and was very
anxious to please her and produce pic
ture worthy Of SO fair subject. Conse-
quently he spared neither time nor care
in arranging a satisfactory pose.
Finally everything was in readiness,
the lady was told to "look pleasant"
the camera "sprung" and sho had been
"taken." The lady sighed with relief.
and the artist disappeared with his
plates into the dark room. In short
time, however, he returned, wearing
puzzled and somewhat cha9rined look
upon his face. With many apologies he
informed the lady that for some unac-
countable reason his plates would not
develop. In fact, they were hopelessly
ruined, and he would have to beg her
to give him another sitting.
The lady was III a hurry, as she had
dinner engagement, but, anxious TO
have the business over with as long as
La hol ;f che ral,ntantlxy
prepared to undergo another siege of
contortions and poses. The photographer
was slightly nervous by this time, and
it was somehow not so easy to arrange
the draperies in careless ease or TO ar
range that queenly head to the best ad
vantage. Do his best, she, who was nat
urally SO graceful, seemed, when viewed
through the camera, to be all angles,
the shoulders too high or the head too
low. But at last all was we'll, and again
he removed the cap, having previously
most carefully examined the plates to
see that no imperfections existed there.
II will wait for few moments"
said the lady good natu-edly, $50 see if
the results are more satisfactory than
before"
"Oh, I am sure there cannot possibly
be any defects this time, =" he replied re-
assuringly as he retired to the seclusion
of darkness. When in few moments
he appeared again. his face was study,
comical in its puzzled despair. The lady
could not refrain a smile as she asked,
"Well?"
"No, madam, not we'll at all-in
| fact, ! never saw sicksr looking mega
| tives. To tell the truth, can't in the
least account for it, but the features are
so blurred as to be indistinguishable. l
never in all my experience had anything
| like it before, nor can / in any way ac-
count for it," said the artist. II am
sure the plates were in perfect condition,
| as / examined them most carefully. The
fault must be in the chemicals, though
/ never had any trouble that way before.
/ am really very sorry for the unfortu-
nate failures, but if your patience is not
wholly exhausted l would like TO try
| once more. y
The lady herself was not only very
| determined character. but Cf an irquir-
| ing mind as well. and little relished be-
| ing bafiled at any undertaking; so she
| replied facetiously:
II have heard tell Of people breaking
| the camera in attempting to have their
| ugliness perpetuated, bat really, now,
| / fiattered myself that j was not quito
| so bad as that. ! don't like to be defeat
| ed in SO small matter, so we will try
again, even if ! miss my engagement. "
Suppose we try different plan,
she continued as the artist again set
about arranging screens and shades.
"Let me pose myself, and we will have
only the head idealized Make it per-
| feet profile. / know my own features
and good points SO well that l am s1ro
we shall have better results If l simply
| take my own natural position, and, be-
sides, it will save time"
And so the lady's Grecian features
were sharply outlined against black
| background, and again the artist at.
tempted to make negative, and the
lady awaited the result. She was not
long in suspense.
"It's really no use," said the artist
finally as he showed her plate he had
tried to develop, and which revealed,
instead Of her classic profile, blurred.
| indistinct mass of-what? Neither could
tell, but certainly it resembled nothing
human.
1T is quite incomprehensible," said
the artist. "There is no use trying
again, for it is evident cannot get n
picture OF you. Why it is l cannot
tell, but may be able to unravel the
mystery some time. I even tried fresh
chemicals with these, but with no bet
ter results If you will call again some
other day, we may do better" he con-
cluded dolefully as the lady took her de-
parture, rather disgusted.
The next day the artist received this
| note:
No. - WEST FIFrY-NINTH STREET.
MY DEAR SIR-were you to SEQ my face to-
| day IL Is possible your failure OF yesterday
might DO logically explained II is n perfect
mass OF eruptions from the measles. which
| made their appearance during tho night. My
ul.,,t Nv faca l,np N