The Press., 1899-06-08
TAKING HER PICTURE
WOMAN AS SHE IS SAID TO POSE BE-
 FORE THE CAMERA.

Charms of the Fair Subjects-HOw Men Usually Face the Photogra- pher-Portraits of Babies.
 The photographer studio-the old fashioned gallery has gone the way of all fesh-is most fascinating place to visit; to visit-that is, with no sui cidaI intent, but merely as disinter- ested spectator of the works of art it contains, for the modern photograph is indeed work of art
 To many persons, and the writer is one of them, the dentists chair hardly presents more appalling possibilities than the picturesque seat provided by the camera artist. To sit, arrayed as the lilies of the field, and stare violently at nothing, trying meanwhile to assume ones sweetest expression, is an experi ance before which one would think the stoutest heart would quail, the most pleasing countenance develop ghastly grin. That they do not do anything of the sort is proved by the specimen pho- tographs one sees.
 Here is maiden with dimple which she is intent upon showing. The cheek which contains it is turned invitingly toward an admiring public. and Cupid's hiding place made very, very conspicu- ous, so much so that the whole of the rest of the picture seems to revolve around it. and one hardly notices the pretty decollete gown or any of the other fine details so absorbing is it.
 Here is another maid, also decollete, IorA ;o%- Lok beplumed Either, one muses, she is going to a dance with the hat on or else she thinks of shopping clad in 8 low cut gown. There seems to be some inconsistency in either supposition, but one remembers that the hat is very be- coming, and so is the gown, and that the combination is entirely fetching, so he smiles leniently back at her and passes on to her neighbor
 She is also clad in evening costume, and so are almost all the other girls until one is tempted to exclaim. ''Neck or nothingl" Most of the photogra- phers recognize this penchant in wom- en for the decollete so entirely that they keep evening waists to hire to their patrons, just as they keep a comb and brush in their dressing rooms. One may even rent property jewelry in some of the galleries. ranging from two carat diamond rings for engaged girls to dia- mond sunbursts and other trifies, indica- tive of her husband's s appreciation of her sacrifice in marrying him.
 The women who are photographed in evening gowns on stairway have usu- @hos- ress down. and one is free to imagine that it is a snap shot of them in their own beautiful homes and that they are engaged in their usual evening amusement of coming down for the ball. The orchestra is supposed to be playing in the drawing room at the right of the hall, and the subject of the picture seems to have paused just a moment, perhaps to debate how many dances she will give Reginald. It some times happens that young women are photographed in evening dress coming l down those beautiful stairs whose means of getting from one floor to an other are limited to an elevator in an apartment house or to the straight, | narrow stairs of boarding house. Some few street costumes are seen among the rank and file. and their ap- pearance is particularly refreshing Men, photographers say. ''take" much better than women because they do not attempt to pose. A man walks ] into studio and takes his seat before the camera with very little prelimina- | ry "ixing ." He is content that his l c. if his tie is perfectly straight and his linen immaculate he considers that he has done all that is necessary in the costuming line His likeness is usual ly. therefore. of the kind popularl! known as speaking, little idealized and little altered
 The photographs of children are al most always things of beauty and veri- table joys forever The little ones dc not pose either. and so the fowerlike faces are reproduced with the sweet. infantile expression of thorough uncon- sciousness There is one class of infant photographs. however. that one woul, think was better honored in the breach than in the observance. This is that that represents the innocent youngsters clad in such an infnitesimal scrap of cloth ing that one cannot but think how thoroughly ashamed of themselves they will be when they grow up and look al this reproduction of their chubby selves It is very reprehensible habit of par ents. for the danger of pneumonia te the subjects must be great.
 Actresses are undoubtedly the bes poseurs and are really to be envied fol the faculty which they possess of being able to assume before the deadly instru ment their best facial expressions ani most graceful poses
 Strange how shocked one becomel when confronted with picture of her self taken l9 years beforel
 .'Did I ever look like that3' she gasps and straightway tears the sem
 blance up The difference is great be
 tween past photograph and present presentment truly. but it is one of dress and the arrangement of the coiffure
 not of features. for cameras do not lie
 as we all know
 The mezZotint photograph of the day
 is certainly great improvement upor the polished finish of the old kind Int features are softened by this process
 and the face that looks out at one from the card is more the face of living
 breathing person than the other kine showed Baltimore News.
 Horrible Example.
 T And you will not elope with me Mamie1''
 Certainly not Just look at pa ana mai They eloned '-CleYeland Plaiy