The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-04
What News Photography
Has Recently Accomplished

one of national interest, or a president
is inaugurated, or an event of similar
magnitude takes place, the expert
photographer is dispatched in haste to
the scene and the newspaper reader the
following day not only reads all about
the event from the description of the
experienced writer, but sees the scene
I before him as the camera caught and
preserved it.
Take another remarkable instance of
the value of the camera as an adjunct
to the news as seen in the series of
photographs of Pope Leo XIII. w. Ken
nedy Laurie Dickson actually photo
graphed his holiness while the latter
was walking in his garden at the vati-
can, and while bestowing final pom
tifical benediction upon Mr. Dickson,
who sought and obtained what no other
living man had the audacity to attempt
to secure. These photographs have
been widely published by the American
papers. Their striking significance lay
in the fact that not one of them was a
simple portrait for which the pope
posed; they were all taken while the
pope was engaged in his duty and daily
recreation. How his holiness gracious
ly permitted this privilege, and how he
suited his actions to the photographers
convenience is told by Mr.. Dickson as
follows: 1T was only after four months
of a constant siege of the vatican and
repeated interviews with Count Sodo-
RIM, Count Pecci the pope's nephew,
and his excellency, Mons. Della Volpe,
the pontifical major domo, that 1 sue
ceeded * He granted me no
fewer than five separate opportunities
embracing 1900 negatives (for news
paper and mutoscope purposes). Two
scenes We're taken in the upper loggia of
the vatican and the occasion of a SOL
~ iet;y
chapel and the reception of pilgrims. In
the first picture his holiness is seen
carried through the loggia and past the
camera in an open chair. The figure
of the pontiff, surrounded by his state
ly and picturesque escort, is one of the
most impressive spectacles imaginable:
the Swiss Palatine and Noble Guard,
the gendarmes and firemen combining
with splendid effect. This picture would
never have been taken except for the
kindness of the pontiff, who patiently
waited half an hour while the appa-
ratus was being brought from the other
side of the vatican. On his return
through the loggia the supreme pontiff
again permitted a series of photogra phs
| to be taken, and also accorded his per-
mission to have the window of the
sedan chair lowered, stopping also be-
fore the camera and blessing the ap-
| paratus repeatedly. I received the papal
benediction dutifully kneeling on the
| top of a small platform composed of
battery boxes, one of the many inse-
| cure perches incident to biograph nx-
periences.
| "a carefully planned picture of his
holiness, driving through the gardens
| of the vatican, was the next achieve
| ment. The close carriage, long dis
| used state landau, was opened for this
special purpose at the request of the
popes all-powerful nephew, Count Pee
| eli, and in spite of the terrific heat his
holiness graciously abstained from
raising a parasol, and again stopped
| before the camera and blessed the ma
| chine. I was told that this was the
first time in 20 years that Leos car
| riage had been open.
The stories of the camera journalists