Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-07
How Famous Men Act When
They Are Getting "Took."
AMUSING INCIDENTS
ROOSEVELT AS 4
PHOTOGRAPHERS SUBJECT.
General Corbin and Admiral Dewey-A
Story on Prince Henry-Way-
laying Schwab.

Written for The Evening Star by Thomas q. Sisk.
AS the celebrity closed the door after him
on the way out the photographer breathed
a sigh of relief.
'These big men," he said, with a touch
Of pity, mingled with some scorn, "are
harder to photograph than spoiled babies,
who won't listen to the birdie, and bashful
country brides. who persist In making eyes
at their husbands just when it's high time
to press the bulb.
There's President Roosevelt. for In
stance. He Is one of the hardest men to
photograph satisfactorily that I've ever
tackled. and. as I'm distinctly "a celebrity
photographer, travelling the world over in
search Of proper subjects, that's saying a
good deal.
THE President is a bad subject for the
simple reason that he doesn't seem to be
able to keep still twenty consecutive sec
onds. You'll get him posed to your own and
his satisfaction. he submitting good ma
turedly to it ALL and are just ready to do
the business when. suddenly, an arm or a
leg Will begin to move energetically, and
It's begin all over again.
I've photographed the President at least
q dozen times. and each time I've had
much trouble. but one experience with him
stands out more clearly than all the others
Jumped together.
presidential chair. I got him to assent to
Sit for me in the chief executives Office.
My appointment was for 10 o'clock, and
sharply at that hour I was ushered into
the Presidents presence and was greeted
with the CHEEKY remark:
Delighted to see you: and I'll promise
to keep still for you. SO we'll get through
quickly. for I've much to do today
= AS put the camera together he recalled
several previous times when I had pho
I'm nd ha hod iad holt
sick by his constant wrigglings. When 1
began posing him, he again said earnestly:
Yes, I'll keep still for you this time,
sure
ibid hep" The celebrity chaser glanced
scornfully at, his questioner Say, 1 dare
say he tried his best, but he kept me two
hours, and out Of the twenty exposures
made 1 got only two decent negatives"
Experience With Gen. Corbin.
The photographers gaze fell on full
lergth picture of Adjutant General Corbin.
framed. and hanging on the wall.
Army and navy men also make you wish
that you hadn't tackled them before you've
been working with them for five minutes"
he said. I've yet to photograph an officer
who isn't fussy about the lay Of the gold
ornaments across his chest. or the angle at
which his sword hangs at his side. But
the most amusing experience I've had with
any officer occurred when I got General
Corbln's permission to photograph him In
his Office in the War Department.
Everything went smoothly with the pos
ing until I was all but ready to let well
enough alone and press the bulb. Then 1t
was that one of the generals aids walked
into the office. He looked at his superior
for second, then said, in an almost hor
ror-stricken tone:
Excuse me. general. but there's some
thing wrong with the way your coat sets"
1.-The general smiled.
Please fix It for me- he requested.
1.-THE aid did SO. but, as he was backing
away and as I was just starting to snap
the camera, he rushed in front of me.
Hold on! he shouted. the generals
sword belt is up little too high at the
right
He put it in place while the general
smiled broadly at me over the mans head.
Then the intrusive gentleman backed off
again, took critical glance at his COM
mander, and was starting for his side for
the third time, when the general suddenly
commanded:
'"'Captain, halt! 'Tensun! Bout face!
Forward, march! And go out of that door
and don't come back until 1 ring for you!'
Then he turned to me.
Now. he said. and his eyes twinkled
nightly. wen have peace. Bring out the
birdie and let 1t sing
Admiral Dewey Before the Camera.
"Then there's Admiral Dewey the man
Of pictures continued. 1.-THE admirars all
right. only he's as shy as a week-old bride
who has come to be taken in her wedding
gown. From the fact that he persists in
getting himself into ball shape when before
the camera, take it that he wants to be
in evidence in a photograph as little as pos
sible. 1 said to him once, after he had
rolled up about the fifteenth time at the
same sitting:
Admiral, If you don't keep straight I'll
have to prop you up
".All right he said, meekly. but just
now feel as If l need an entirely different
sort of strengthened
I'm not saying whether or not the adj
miral got what he thought he needed, but
did finally succeed in getting a splendid
negative; and to date I've made over 5000
selling copies of it throughout the country.
It's astonishing how well the photographs
of celebrities sell. The demand for them is
constant, even though they vary from 81
to So apiece. And, queer thing, the Euro
peans steady buyers of licensees OF
Americas big men. Only the other day I
got an order from st. Petersburg pho
tographer for copies of my negatives Of
President Roosevelt, several members Of his
cabinet, and our leading army and navy
officers.
With Count Cassini.
"And that reminds me of the time that
invaded the Russian embassy at Washing
ton in order TO get count CaSSln1 TO Sit for
me. The count at1Quietly enough-after he
had asked advice of the young countess,
his secretaries, the military and naval at
taches and who not around the legation
Every one had a different suggestion to
make, and would you believe it, the count
actually changed his clothing four times in
an effort to suit himself and the host that
he had called In to give advice. 1 dare say
that he'd been changing clothes yet, If the
countess hadn't finally showed him into the
chair and said:
Now sit there-do-to please me-
"And the count mopped the perspiration
from his brow, smiled sweetly into the
camera, and 1t was all over in second
after two hours fuss that had upset the
legation from cellar to garnet.
A Prince Henry Anecdote.
prince Henry? l should say 1 have
about 500 times. I have no hesitation in
saying that he is the most photographed
man of his day. and the prince also feels
sure of this distinction, judging from the
conversation that had with him while the
special train was coming east, for 1 was on
the train during the entire trip.
1T was after the princes experience in
Chicago, where every man, woman and
child in sight seemed to have camera and
where the prince literally had to make his
way at all times through veritable lane
of black-boxed, clicking instruments The