The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-03-03

lieve 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. l daresay
that he'd be 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 perspi-
ration from his brow, smiled sweetly
into the camera, and it was all over
in a second after "a two-hours' fuss
that had upset the legation from eel
lar to garnet.
prince Henry? l should say 1
have-about 500 times. 1 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 CONVEX
sation that l had with him while the
special train was coming east, for I
was on the train during the entire
trip.
ct was after the princes expert
ence in Chicago, where every man,
m and child in sight seemed to
have a camera, and where the prince
literally had to make his way at all
times through a veritable lane of
black-boxed, clicking instruments.
The prince walked up to me and said:
GLOW many times do you think
that you've photographed me?'
"tOn a rough guess, 1 should say
$780, l replied.
"The prince pulled out a note book
and busted himself writing something
for a few minutes. Then he turned
to me and said, and threre was much
WEAKNESS in his voice:
"'Using your figures and my Chi
cago experience as a starting point,
I've hastily calculated that, since I've
been in America I've had 4,600,0 OLE
cameras pointed at me, with a grand
total Of somewhere between 10000, 900
and 15,000,00O photographs taken.
And despite this fact. you'll he insist
ing on photographing me at the next
stopping place.
''The easiest of all big men for the
photographer? William Mckinley
without exception. He was accom-
moiating, polite, affable and thorough
ly patient at all times. never had
any trouble posing him, and the way
he cut through a lot of red tape that
had Eeen bothering me for a week I
shall not soon forget.
"a the time hat he and Mrs. Nc
Kinley and several of his advisors
were recreating on Lake Champlain
several years ago | vas commissioned
by a big New York publication to Sc
cure a new photograph of Mrs. Nc
Kinely. 1 went to the resort and
tried to get the president to inter-
cede for me with Mrs. Mckinley, but
the men surrounding the president
kept me from him and refused to de-
liver my messages. l had about given
up hope, when on the day that party
left the resort, l managed to reach
the presidents side before his guards
we're aware of my presence. The
president recognized me at once and,
as he gave me a hearty ~handshake,
| explained my mission.
"'Why, certainly, I'll help you all
that l cam he replied. Why didn't
you come to me before?
81 told him. He laughed.
".Ah, they're very Jealous and ieal-
GUS over me- he replied.
Then he beheld Mrs. Mckinley
Just about to step or the boats gang.
plank. He called to her, asked her
to face him and to stand still, adding
GA friend of mine wants to photo
kraph YOU
MRS. Mckinley turned full toward
smiled, and click went the camera.
Chow said the president, as he
held out his hand in goodbye, all |
ask in return for my services is a
print of the negative.
81 lost no time in sending it to him
and, in due S l received a :
from him thanking me for the photo
graph and praising it as n CT the
ever taken of his wife