Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-06
TWAS PERFECT.
Young Lady Has Her First
Picture Taken.
She is Delighted With it and Will
Send One to George"
John Quill Relates His Experience in Photo
graphic Gallery.

If there is any one class Of people in |
this great round world Of ours that out |
classes Job and gives him points on
patience 1t is the photographer; and |
when this class of face takers shuttle |
off the mortal coil and join the silent
majority on that evergreen shore there
should bea Especial place for them parti-
toned off from the rest of the COM
mon herd, where they can recline on
beds of down and listen to sweet music
being played on harps inlaid with
mother-of pearl, while they sip am
bTosa out of golden cups.
/ was in a picture foundry the other
day chatting with the artist, who takes
your picture while you wait We We're
discussing among other things the
Christmas trade and the funny things
that come under the photographer
observation when a whole family came
in to watch the painless operation of
the oldest daughter having her feat
Ures transplanted on paper. After a
cordial greeting by the artist of the
family as whole he singled out the
prospective victim and ushered her
into the reception room to make her
toilet while he retired to his Egyptian
for the sacrifice.
After being led SO far into the mys-
teries of the business / concluded to
stay and see the finish and make a
few notes on my cuffs for the benefit
of the journal readers. After a wait
OF considerable length 1 mildly in
quired what had become of the victim
and was informed by the operator that
she was primping up.
Pretty soon she appeared on the
scene all primped and in her war
paint. She was never intended for a
prize beauty in dime museum or
goddess of Olympus but she was a
vision and no June bride ever cast any
more of hypnotic influence over a
nest of old bachelors than did this grille
grille with the warm Auburn peni-
Tertiary hair and her ingrowing blue
eyes. She wanted a picture for her
dear George and she wanted real
p1etty one. so she said. She evidently
did not realize that the days of mira
c,es were about over and the manipu-
Iator of the camera was not versed in
the art of removing moles and freckles
without leaving any trace. she was
not freckled, only freckle, just one and
tidal wave of prosperity that the cam
pagn orator always works into his
political harangue just before close
election.
The artist was willing to do the
best he could with what material ne
hard to work with so led her out in
front of the machine and seated her
where she posed a la Maude Adams.
,.1 n
mould her into shape. When all was
ready he stepped back a couple Of
PAGES nearer the machine, smiled
bewitching smole and said:
Now, Miss. already. If you Will
kindly concentrate your gaze on TINS
little card and put on pleasant,
natural smile, we will see what we can
DO"
She smiled all right; no question
about that. 1t was one of those real
hearty, wholesome smiles like the one
the whale put on when he invited
Jonah in out of the wet, one of those
bI Dad open-hearted smiles that remind
one of looking down the mouth Of
Vesuvius. The smile was success
and the operator informed the young
lady that possibly it would be as well
if she was not quite so liberal in the
smile line.
Then he had to wait some little time
until her features knit together again
and her face once more resumed its
placid expression. The posing opera
ton was repeated several times until
he had used up enough glass plates to
cover a hot mouse roof. Yet nothing
seemed to satisfy her, until at last
the man of patience emerged from his
hocus pocus cabinet with a dripping
negative and the dear girls features
outlined on it i'm bold relief.
The picture reminded one of
snake charmer in popular-priced
musee. But she was pleased almost
into a compton fit and knew 1t would
Just suit her George. dear, and he
would always wear it right over his
suspender buckle on the left side. She
run on like a Hamburg steak chopper
and finally ordered one dozen of the
best cabinets to be finished just as
soon as he could possibly do it,
Then she perculated into the dressing
room, reappeared in about 80 minutes
ready for the street, and with the en-
tire flock disappeared through the hole
the carpenters left for an exit, leav-
ing the artist bordering on state of
collapse and then and there made up
my mind that If / was left the choice
of two professions, photographing or
stealing sheep / should certainly
choose the latter and If ever st. Peter
gives me a good seat up in his domain.
well down in front, and l see some
poor photographer come in l shall
arise, take my hat in my hand. and
say. MY boy. you take my seat; I'll
stand"
40. q .N |