, 1898-10-21
CAMERA FIENDs EXPERTS.
A Charge at a Wedding and a Tempta-
ton at a Funeral.

"
The kodak fiend has had his usual
summer frenzy. He has assaulted The
mountains and abused the sea. He has
made life a burden TO bathers. and
robbed the world of it's glamour for
lovers, and ratified golf players, and
endured general un~popularity with
cheerful
Eve weddings and funerals are not
safe from him. A recent wedding
which made a stir in Boston took place
at the brides summer home, on the
coast. It was a charming affair,
picturesque in the highest degree. and
delightfully."- informal. The informality
had disastrous results, for each of the
guests, knowing that the wedding was
to be an out-of-doors affair, was in
spired with the idea Of smuggling in
his camera n getting some snap
shots Of the happy couple and the
bridesmaids.
When the bride and bridegroom. al
ready in the last stage of nervous en-
barrassment, received the r~ector's
benediction; and turned to face their
friends there was a unanimous and
sudden movement in the crowd, and
the unfortunate couple were confronted
by rows upon rows of cameras, of all
shapes and sizes. Each aggressor.
having fattered himself that his idea
was unique, was surprised at the IN
~ - - AAg -
The crowd closed in upon the victims.
The bride looked hysterical and the
bridegroom looked savage. They had
thought that the worst was over, but
this was adding insult to injury AL
of escape were closed 10
them. They must grin and bear it
and they did. A professional pho
tographsr, who had been engaged by
the father of the bride to take some
pictures of the house and decorations,
happened to be in at the death; and,
being a mar with a keen sense Of
humor, he took a picture of the scene,
which he calls The Charge of the
Kodak Brigade" and which is a de-
liciously satirieal comment on the
kodak mania
One of the wedding guests, who was
in the front ranks during the on
Slaught, has a wide reputation along
the south shore, and, though he is
mild faced and elderly, his advent
will scatter a crowd more effectually
than a smallpox flag. Every n
knows him and realizes that the only
safety from being photographed when
he ppears lies in instant and hasty
fight. He can't help taking pictures.
He has a most virulent and long
standing case of the mania.
Early in July his wife's mother died
and the old gentleman was summon-
ed to the funeral. He vas sinceDely
grieved; even for his mothertin-law
his kindly soul had felt no dislike.
He hurried to the city, where the
funeral was to take place, and con-
Quoted himself with becoming and
sorrowful dignity; but at the close of
the services, when the mourners filed
out of the house, he was missed. He
had disappeared suddenly, completely,
and search for him was unaYail1ng;
so the carriages were filled without
him, and the cortege was moving
away, when an unseemly grin ir-
radiated the minister's face, but was
quickly suppressed. Concealed behind
a convenient hedge, with his camera
pointed at the imposing procession,
was the missing mourner. The temp
tation had been too strong for him.
Professions We're his speciality. He
was tempted, and fell; but, as he
afterward explained, he thought it
would be a comfort to have the Dc
ture in the family. 1t was