The evening times., 1897-06-26
SPIRIT PHOTOGRAPHS.
A Tricky Camera, a Believing Me-
dium and willy Artist.

dunn and willy Artist.
This story seems 70 fit III pat after the
foregoing report. A little party was gath
cred ia the back room of a popular Omaha
photographer, and spirits happening to be
the subjects of conversation, the man OF
the camera added his quota 70 the general
fund by asserting that in earlier days, be-
fore he began To steady down. he had the
reputation of being the best ghost phOtOg-
Tapher in the country. Then, ds he chuckled
as II there was something funny about IL.
one or his audience asked for a sample, and
he reeled this thing off:
lone Of my best works in this line was
done in Lincoln. There was a medium in a
TOOI1 adjoining my studio, and I set up a
Job on her. A couple OF young fellows
hung arcund the studio every day, and they
began by telling her that / was a powerful
medium, but would not allow anyone TO
mention the subject to me, was so all
fiIed afraiu. In fact. was such a favorite
with the Inhabitants OF the other world
that they nocked to ray studio in drovcs.
and Iever took picture without some Of
them trying % get into IL. As result
had to examine every negative carefully
q
cue was spoiled for this reason OF late
the power had been growing upon me,
until I Ead become worried lest ii was go
ing 70 ruin Ia as photographer. and for
this reason allowed 10 one 70 mention
the subject OF talk about 10 in m presence
when size heard this she could not
Iest until she had come in and legged
me to photograph her roOm for her.
refused, genuy at first. then more euiphat-
icaEy as she grew argsut, ana al last or
dered her never 10 mention % the subject
TO Ine again or COurss. this only made her
the more anxlnIs
zone night took my camera down on
the street and made a flashlight picture
or the head or cigar sore Indian This
medium thought that an Indian was her
controlling spirit. ne negative marked
and laid away. Several weeks lata. I
consented. after much PERSUASION &, make
just one Picture OF her room. I dill So
aud the IndiRn's head came out beautifully
among the lace curtains of the window
But refused 10 let any one see the prpOf
ana the toys told her had threatened 20
kill any one Of them that dared to print
another one. Of course, she was crak. 10
zee it. and at length, after flakin.. ner
sv ear never to speak to a soul aIout Il.
they TOOK the negative into her room md
printed a copy before her When she saw
that Indians head in the curtains there
was 40 promise or oath that could hold her
Down sfe rushed 20 the office Of one Of ne
papers. and that evening had two columns
OF good advertising rOt which no hiil was
ever presented The woman renewed to
Omaha, is now living in this city. and to
tlns day has never learned OF he trick that
was PLAYED on her.
The way I stumbled on tothfs scheme"
continued the misguided photographer.
after he had got through chuCklnC over tie
manner in which he had trCked the poor
deludei woman. was this. One dav.
several wears before pa rtv of young ladies'
came to me fOi group They were n clasS
in school, / think. anyway, they were al
dressed in white: j tCOk cLe picture with
a very quick exposure, which was not
and was obliged 20 have
another sitting. The first negative was
laii away. and, few months afterwar,I
was used by mistake when / ,hed To
take picture OF an outdoor scene The
building was all right. but Up in the clculs
appeared that whole group. shadow. ghost
like, hut all there, and very pretty At
first ] was as aston shed IS anvcne could
he. hut when i fegan To investigate. I
found tho tue state Of the case This. by
the way is the mann CT in which nine-tenths
Of the spirit photographs are made.
qul' K exposure is taken, the negative laiI
away. and afterward used in the regular
way-'-Omaha Wofid-Herald