The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-29
EXPLOITS OF CAMERA FiENDS.
A Charge at a Wedding and Tempt
alton 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 burden to bathers,
and robbed the world of its gla-
mour for lovers, and ratified
golf players, and endured general
unpopularity with cheerful unconcern.
Even weddings and funerals are not
safe from him. A recent wedding which
made stir i'm Boston took place at the
brides summer home, on the coast 1t
was a charming affair. picturesque in
the highest degree, and delightfully."-
informal. The informality had disas-
trous results. for each Of the guests,
knowing that the wedding was to be an
out doors affair was inspired with
the idea of smuggling in his camera
and 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 rector's ben
ediction and turned to face their friends
there was "A unanimous and sudden
movement i'm the crowd, and the unfor-
upon rows of cameras, of all shapes
and sizes. Each aggressor, having fiat
tered himself that his idea was unique,
was surprised at the unanmity of in
tent: but no one relented. The crowd
closed i'm upon the victims. The bride
looked hysterical and the bridegroom
looked savage. They had thought that
the worst was over. but this was add
ing insult to injury All avenues of es-
cape were closed to them. They must
grin and bear it-and they did. a pro-
fessional Photographic. 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 man 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
deliciously satiriCal comment on the
kodak mania.
one of the wedding guests. who was
I'm 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 scat
ter "A crowd more effectually than a
smallpox flag. Every one knows him
and realizes that the only safety from
being photographed when he appears
lies I'm instant and hasty flight lie
can't help taking pictures He has a
most virulent and long-standing case
Of the mania.
Early In July his wifc's mother died
and the old gentleman was summoned
to the funeral. He was sincerely griev-
cd even FOR his mothCr-in law his
kindly soul had felt no dislike. He hur-
ried To the city. where the funeral was
to take place. and conducted himself
with becoming and sorrowful dignity
hut at the close of tn, services when
the mourners filed out Of the house. ne
was missed. He had disappeared sud
denly. completely. and search for him
was unaYailing: so the carriages were
filled without him. and the cortege was
moving away. when an unseemly grin
irradiated the minister's face. but was
quickly suppressed. Concealed behind
n convenient hedge. with his camera
pointed at the imnosinE procession. was
the missing mourner. The temntation
had been too strong for him. Process
sions were hts speciality. he was
tenipted. and fell: hut. as he afterward
exnlnined. he thought " would be n
comfort to have the picture i'm the fam
ily 1t was a fine funeral.-N. Y. sun.