Evening journal., 1896-12-28
THE CAMERA KNEW.
WHY THE PHOTOGRAPHER COULDN'T
GET a GOOD NEGATIVE.


Only Skin Deep" and the si.in Was Thin.
The following remarkable story is
vouched for by well known clerical
gentleman Of this city, who always mas
fund of amusing yarns at his tongues
end which are new and entertaining.
Some time ago a 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 q pic
ture worthy Of SO fair subject. Consc-
quently he spared neither time nor caro-
in arranging a satisfactory pose.
Finally everything was in readiness.
the lady was told to "look pleasant .
the camera sprung and she had been
taken. P" The lady sighed with relief.
and the artist disappeared with his
plates into the dark room. In a short
time, however, lie returned, wearing q
puzzled and somewhat chagrined look
upon his face With many apologies ho
informed the lady that for some unac.
countable reason his plates would not
develop. In fact, they were hopolessly
ruined, and he would have to beg her
to give him another sitting.
The lady was in a hurry, as she had
dinner engagement, but, anxious 20
have the business over with as long rs
she had commenced it, she reluctantly
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 case 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 Bat 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 a few moments"
said the lady good naturedly. ''to see if
the results are more satisfactory than
before. "
"Oh, am sure there cannot possibly
be any defects this time, hereplied re-
assuringly as he retired TO the seclusion
Of darkness. When in a few moments
he appeared again, his face was a study,
comical in its puzzled despair. The lady
could not refrain q smile as she asked,
"WelI?"
"No, madam, not well at all-in
fact never saw sicker looking mega
tives. TO tell the truth. can't in the
least account for it, but the features aro
so blurred as TO be indistinguishuble.
never in all my cxperienco had anything
like it before, nor can l in any way ac-
count for it, SAID the artist. 81 am
sure the plates were in perfect condition,
as I examined them most carefully. The
fault must be in the Chemicals though
! never had any trouble that way before.
/ am really very sorry for tho unfortu-
nate failures, but if your patience is not
wholly exhausted 1 would lil.o to try
once more. -
The lady herself was not only very
determined character, but Of an inquir-
ing mind as well, and little relished be-
ing bafled at any undertaking; so she
replied faceiiously:
81 have heard tell Of people breaking
the camera in attempting 10 have their
ugliness perpetratod. but really, now,
fiattoied myself that 1 was not quito
, so bad as that don't like 20 BE- defeat
ed in so small matter, so we viii try
again, even if I miss my engagement
Suppose we try a 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 idoalizad. Make 1t per-
feet profile. / know my own features
and good points so well that am suro
we shall have better results If l simply
take my own natural position, and, be-
sides, 10 will. gave time.
And so the lGdy's Groclan features
were sharply outlined against a black
BACKGROUND, and again the artist at
tempted to mako negative, and tho
LADY awaited tho result Sho was not
long in suspense.
"It's really no usc, said tho artist
finally as he showed her plate be 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.
III ln NuALE lANiiNi-a-rAti -'--N-
the artist. ''There is 10 use trying
again, for it is evident I cannot set a
picture of you Why it is l cannot
tell, but 1 may be ablo to unraycl tho
mystery some time. even tried fresh
3 chemicals with these, but with no bet
4 ter results. If you will call again some
e other day, we may do better, - ho con
e clnded dolefunv as the lady took her de-
parture, rather disgusted
The next day the artist received thls
note: e..-,,u.
s No - WEST FIFTY NINTH oI.shhi.
. My DRNR Su,-Woro you to sec my iaco 90.
y ,o,. A. is ,,oasible vour failure Of yesterday
might be logically esplaia9d , It rs peTieSSs pl;cS
q ,i thoi,. s,,,,snr,1oe during the night. MY
eyes are swollen Shut ard my face al%9is 5i1 pai n,
recognizable. is it possible inc cohoi. =.
N INV sl,in was ruch thHt the sensitive piate r.
r. produced itg will try again when recover
- Mrs. 80.
1o"ls' Per Maid
v t. xras ovnn ~ sh0 suggested. IhhI