West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-07-18

0(l1 X. BOWSER is SO regular in his
SJ]yl eomings and goings that when he
O2 came home four hours ahead Of
time the other afternoon. Mrs. Bowser knew
that something had occurred to break his
programme. She didn't have to ask what 1t
was. as he had kodak with him and at
once proceeded to explain.
81 thought I'd come home and get a few
snap shots at the landscapes around here.
"You-you've gone and got another
kodak % she exclaimed.
Il have kodak here. yes, but YOU
needn't look as if you wanted to swallow
it,"
''l'ut you got one few months ago, and
don't you remember what happened All
the pictures you took were cross eyed and
wrong end up, and you finally got mad and
smashed things What on earth possessed
you TO get another 3''
My dear woman, il was no wonder
couldn't take pictures with that thing they
called kodak. 1t was rank swindle and
little better than a corn shelter. Il was
inevitable that should make a failure. In
this machine, however,
you've got something diaeren, ?" she
finished.
81 have. can take a photograph TO
knock the spots off the best of them. | was
Practicing all the afternoon, and I'm tickled
to death. The pictures are so lifelike that
you can see every hair on dogs tail. In a
weeks time we will hll our parlors with
works of art, and you can point TO them
with pride and say that your husband did
them ALL"
Mrs. Bowser sighed and turned away, and
Mr.. Bowser gathered up his outfit and lef,
the house, saying that he would be back in
the course of couple of hours
lie started off down the street with the
ambition of an artist surging up in his soul,
and the family cat sat on the steps and
looked after him and wondered whether he d
come home on the gallop or in the ambu-
lance. Mr., Bowser did not have to 90 far
before finding something that appealed to
his artistic temperament. An old umbrella
mender who had taken seat under shade
tree had fallen asleep. Ills hat had fallen
off, his legs were stretched out on the side.
walk, and the picturesque attitude would
make famous picture. Mr.. Bowser STONED
and set up his kodak, and as he did so
various appropriate titles Tor the picture ran
through his head. 1t could be called "A
Modern Brigand, f" -'Innocence in a Great
City" "Noi Dead, but Sleeping, " or .Wake
Him Not" lie had just GO, the range
when man crossed the road from saloon
and asked
''What ye goin to do to old Petro ?"
''rake his picture"
"What fur ?"
"Oh, just to make one of my collection.
I'm out taking snap shots, you know. l
think the old man will work out beauti-
fully"
''But don't rink so. De old man is me
friend, and nobody's goin to play dirt on
him if can help it. Git along wild dat
squirt gun -
''But don't you understand that simply
want picture Of him as showing my own
work with the kodak ?" protested Mr..
Bowser.
81 understand all about il. DE old man
may take your umbreller TO mend and furpit
to bring il back, and ye run to de coppers
wild his piciur' and make him trubble. CIT
along or derell be row."
The man squared off and looked so ugly
and so much in earnest that Mr.. Bowser felt
it wise to move on. II didn't take him
long, however, to find another subject On
the steps Of tumble down old shanty. there
sat baby, and in the doorway above him
stood a goat. There we're sentiment and
picturesqueness combined, and almost at the
first glance MFR. Bowser decided to label the
picture "The Baby's Guardian" The baby
stared at him, and the goat kept a watchful
eye, as he moved around and made ready,
aud in another minute the button would have
been pressed but for an interruption. a
woman suddenly appeared in the doorway
beside the goat and called out
"Now, then, what's goin on out there ?''
'I'm about to take a picture with my
kodak, replied Mr.. Bowser
'Ts it Of The baDy and the goat 2''
dyes
'Then you drop it like hot pertaty or
| I'll come down on ye as big as a house 90
"My dear woman, let me explain the
situation. am an amateur photographer
am taking few pictures for
81 understands perfectly" she inter
rupted. "Me old man sat right here one
/ day two months ago a-smokin Of his pipe
and feelin that Il was good to live when
along comes bloke wild jest sich machine
as that lie peeks and squinis and takes a
piciur and goes Oft, and Two days later me
Dan'l is arrested by the police fur stealth
four barrels Of cement and six punches Of
| shingles BE of, say o.
"My good woman, I solemnly assure
you began Mr.. Bowser, but she advanced
and punched him in he back with broom.
and he had to move on.
lie travelled six or eight blocks before he
/ struck his next Landscape % was
rude shanty, with a sign Of "saloou over
the door, and there we're a dozen picturesque
I figures loa6ng around and splitting cotton.
Mr.. Bowscr decided 10 take picture and
label It "The home Of Industry and none
I Of the idlers objected as be made ready.
| Indeed, some Of them assumed stiIl more
picturesque poses, as u TO favor him. 10
couple Of minutes bis work was done. and
be was about to turn away when one Of the
gang approached and queried.