Evening journal., 1897-01-13
THE CAMERA KNEW.
WHY THE PHOTOGRAPHER COULDN'T
GET A GOOD NEGATIVE.

tion Before the Eye Could See TIT /
Showed In This Case That Beauty Is |
Only skin Deep" and the skin Was Thin. |
The following remarkable story is
vouched for by a well 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 a handsome aud 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 a 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 she had been
"taken. The lady sighed with relief,
and the artist disappeared with his
plates into the dark room. In q short
time, however, he returned, wearing a
puzzled and somewhat chagrined 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 in a hurry, as she had
dinner engagement, but, anxious to
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 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, 20 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
sec that 10 imperfections existed there.
Il will wait for q few moments, F"
said the lady good naturedly, ito see if
the results are more satisfactory than
before "
Olf ull hAll0 AilIA0 AaAliAON lOooADA1
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 a study,
comical in its puzzled despair. The lady
could not refrain smile as sho asked,
"Well?"
"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 are
so blurred as TO be indistinguishable.
never in all my experience had anything
like it before, nor can I in any way ac
count for it, " said tho artist Il an
, sure the plates were in perfect condition
as L examined them most carefully. Thl
fault must be in the chemicals, though
s 1 never had any trouble that way before
e / am really very sorry for the rnfortu
nate failures, bat If your patience is nc
wholly exhausted L would like to tr,
once more.
The lady herself was not only very
determined character but of an inquir
/ ing mind as well. and little relished be
? ing baffied at any undertaking; SO sh'
D replied facetiously;
e Il have heard tell Of people breaking
the camera in attempting to have thei
ugliness perpetuated. but really, now
2 l fiattered myself that 1 was not quit
i so bad as that. l don't like to be defeat
+; ed in so small a matter so we viii TT,
[ again, even if miss my engagement.
4 "Suppose we try q different plan,
d ! Il. 3 l,n co
about arranging screens and shades
: LET me pose myself and we will hav
only the head idealized. Make it a per
feet profile. / know my own feature
and good points so we'll that / am sur
T. we shall have better results if / simpl.
y take my own natural position, and, be
l. sides, it will save time. -
And so the lady's Grecian feature
l. were sharply outlined against blacl
y background, and again the artist at
= tempted to make negative, and th
= lady awaited the result. Sho was no
|. long in suspense.
s ''It's really no use, ," said tho arts
Y finally as he showed her a plate he ha
l. tried to develop, and which revealed
g instead Of Der classic profile, q blurred
l. indistinct mass of-what? Neither coul
\ \ tell, but certainly it resembled nothin
n human.
d 1T is quite incomprehensible, " sal
Ie the artist "There is no use tryin
is again, for it is evident l cannot get
y picture of you. Why it is l cannc
< tell, but / may be ablo TO unravel tn
n mystery some time. even tried fres
u chemicals with these, but with no BET
ter results. If you will call again som
/, other day, we may do better" he COL
m cluded dolefully as the lady took her dc
parture, rather disgusted.
n The next day the artist received thi
T. note;
ly No. - WEST FIFTY-NISrn STREET.
I'd MY DEAR SIR-Were you to sec my face q
ID day it is possible your failure Of ycsterda
o. might be logically explained Il is a perfe'
. mass Of oruptions from tho measles whiC
~ made their appearance during the night n
u eyes are swollen shut and my face almost al
Id recognizable. is il possible the condition
"a. Al a.I..N..