Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-01-19
THE CAMERA KNEW.
WHY THE PHOTOGRAPHER COULDN'T
GET A GOOD NEGATIVE.

| The sensitised Plate Discovered - Erup-
tion Before the Eye Cesia See ls-n
Showed In This cs:e That 'Bes.sy Il
Only Skin Deep and the SKIN We uhan.
The following remarkable story il
vouched for by Q 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 handsome and inter-
esting society woman entered the studio
of a 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 a pic
ture worthy Of SO fair subject. Conse-
quently he spared neither time nor care
in arranging 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 a short
time, however, he returned, wearing q
puzzled and somewhat chaerined 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 We're hopelessly
ruined, and he would have to beg her
| to give him another sitting.
The lady was in n hurry, rs she had
a dinner engagement, bzr, anxious TO
have the business over with as long M
she had commenced IL, she reluctantly
prepared to undergo another siege OF
contortiops 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 nd
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 mt last ali was well. and again
he removed the cap. having previously
most carefully examined the plates to
See that no iiupcrfcciions existed there.
II will wait for n few moments"
said the lady good naturally. Ito see IL
the results are more satisfactory than
bcfore."
''oh, am suro thcrc cannot possibly
be any defects this time. " he replied re.
assuringly rs he retired to the scclusion
Of darkness. When in n few moment.
he appeared again. his face was n study.
comical in its puzzled despair. The lady
could not refrain n smile rs she asked.
"Well:''
'No. madam. not well at ali-in
fact, never saw sickcr looking mega
tives. To tell the truth. can't I'm tho
least account for IL. hut the features arp
so blurred as to be iniistinguishable. 1
never in all my experience had anything
like 1t before, nor can I in any way ac-
count for it." said tine artist II am
sure the plates were in perfect condition,
ms examined them most carefully. Tho
fault must be in the chemicals. though
l never had any trouble that way before
I am really very sorry for the uufurtu.
nate failures. but II your pationce is not
wholly exhausted would like TO try
once more"
The lady herself vas no. only n very
determined character. but of an inquir.
ing mind rs well. and little rolished be-
ing bafiied at any undertaking; so sbo
replied facetiously:
II have heard tell of people breaking
the camera in attempting 20 have their
uglinoss pcrpctuaied. but really, now,
l hattered myself that I was not quito
so bad rs that. I don't like 60 be defeat
ed In SO small n matter, 80 we will try
again, even IL l miss my engagement"
Suppose we try u different PLAN"
she continued NJ tho artist again set
about arranging screens and shades
Let me pose myself. and we will have
only the head idealized. Mako it n per-
feet profile. know my own features
and good points so well that am surc
we shall have better results II I simply
take my own natural position. and. be-
sides, il Will save time"
And so the lady's Crccian features
were sharply outlincd against n black
background. and again the artist ut
tempted to mako n negative. and the
LADY awaited tho result. She was not
long in suspense.
ITS really no use," said the nrtist
finally rs be showed her plate he had
tried TO develop. and which revealed.
instead Of her classic profile. n blurred,
indistinct mass of-what? Neither could
tell. but certainly it resenbled nothing
human.
1T il quite incnmprehensiblc." said
the artist. There Is no uss trying
again, for it is evident cannot set
picture Of You. Why IL Is cannot
tell, but may be able 90 unrascl the
mystery some time. Ioven tried fresh
chemicals with these. but with no bet
ter results. II you will call again some
other day. we may do better" be con-
cluded dolefully rs the lady took her de-
p1rture, rather disgus;ed.
The next day tho artist received this
note:
20. - wrsT rfrTr.xrxTu STREET.
MI DEAR sfR-Ncrs yoa O. nay fsrs 90
day y u possible your failure 90 yos;-riay
might be logically orphaned u l. . frrfect
mas os crupt3ans from The f1casiss. which
made their appearance during thc Eishf. NJ
eyes arc swollen shut and ny f.or almost us-
rocosntzshlc- j. 30 possible thc coadiisoa q
my SKIN was s7ch that the srnsifivc rizts 70
produced ~ VIII try again whea ruoovcr.
Yours Ma =.