Evening star., 1904-02-27
WVGS
M4RD
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but fraction of a second, several seconds
were then required
well, back in 1856 while / was man.
aging a studio in Philadelphia. received
a call from little town some fifty miles
up the state to make pictures at a family
reunion to be held there by one OF the old
families Of the section. made my arrange
meuts and took train, with my equipment.
for the little town. Arrived there, l was
soon established down in the cellar of
fine old mansion, set among stately trees.
with well-kept estate stretching out be-
hind it,
During the following day the tottering
old grandfather and grandmother had made
what was probably the last record of their
features, to be framed and hung in many
home and pointed to in succeeding years
as types OF The plain and unassuming, but
clear minded and firm, personalities that
row are missed Then. one by one and two
by two, the younger genera tons were i'm
pressed upon my plates.
Finally the time arrived for the grand
ensemble Of the family to be photographed
in one group. making an impressive display
of its size. / arranged them all in approved
old fashion and focused them sharply. BY
the way, l might here mention that these
pictures were all made on the sunny lawn
out in front of the mansion, where the least
exposure would be required. In the group
was q young wife of one of the members
or the family holding the reunion, whose
hair was of the warmest golden hue 1 had
previously made a large picture of herself
and her worse half, and had wished the
plate could be made to reproduce the beau
uful hue of her hair. In the large group,
where the reduction was considerable, this
young woman's hair was focused down
to small area and shone out on the
ground glass with positive glow, drawing
the attention at once from the balance OF
the picture.
Everything being ready, I placed the
cap over the lens and inserted the plate-
holder. at the same time estfma ting the
length of that bo
calling to them in low, smooth tone and
with slow articulation: Keep still: very
stiH-s-t-i-l-lr I uncapped the lens and be-
gan to count the exposure. Just before
suficient time had elapsed the camera
seemed to become imbued with life and
gave sudden jump, at the same time Civ
ing out noise like some one striking the
bellows with a stick
This surprising phenomena was entirely
unaccountable, and I supposed that inyoi-
unfairly and unconsciously I must have
struck the machine either with my hand or
my loot. l hastily covered the lens and
inserted the slide. proceeding then immedi-
ateiy to the improvised dark room in the
cellar to see whether the negative had been
spoiled -
1T Is difficult for you to Judge the de-
gree OF my surprise when 1 found that the
MIN of collodion holding the silver bromide
with which 1 few moments before coated
the glass had entirely disappeared. After
PuIAlng over Il a short while without ar
irving at solution 1 coated another plate
and carried it out to make another expos-
ure or the group. The result was the same
Hnaliy decided that some chemical chanea
nau occurred IN my solutions. and decided
that 1t would be useless for me to continue
my efforts since 1 had no more Chemicals
with which to make them up afresh.
IN lhe light of modern scientific discov-
eries l nave arrived at the conclusion that
the trouble was caused by the red hair of
that young lady. The sunlight was ouite
intense, and her hair refracted the red or
neat rays so strongly that when focused no
they Were in the camera sufficient heat was
neFeioped to explode the gun cotton which
was one of the main constituents of ths
collodion on the wet plate"
for Few moments after the photocra-
pher concluded there was strange silence
in the group.
There are many ministers In this city who
are frequently importuned by strangers for
assistance, and those who are easily in
duced to part with their coin are known to
those who 10 the asking II think when
one man gets assistance from a minister
SAID the pastor of a church to an Evening
Star reporter, "he must tell all the others
VINO happen to come his way It is not an
uncommon thing to have several callers of
this class tell the same story within the
course of two or three days, and things ara
said which show that the first one coached
AhO PdStoT related q story OF
the treatment of one man who called and
told a hard-luck story, which was con-
cluded with the usual request for a Nhand-
out" After telling him his story of mis-
fortune he asked for the contribution of n
Few dollars Here's dollar" said the
pastor. handing over the big silver coin:
L know that will help you" Are Won
going to send me away with this ?'' asked
the stranger. do you think a gentleman
can make out with dollar?' Let me
see. said the parson, holding out one hand
Tor the dollar and putting the other down
IN his pocket. as il to take out a bill "If
you can't make out with It," he said. after
getting back the silver dollar, II can And
then he turned and ascended the stairs.
leaving his caller speechIess.
y X
No. I'm not raising beard in order to
reduce my expenses or for the purpose of
swelling the fund which intend to use for
nay vacation next summer" was the reply
made yesterday by the cashier of promi-
nent business firm to a friend who ventured
to inquire about his facial adornment You
see,' the cashier went on to explain, Il re-
Gently came into possession of a house
which is heated by a furnace. and that is
the direct cause of the change in my ap-
pearance Not being able to find anybody
to take proper care of the heating apparatus
that duty fell on me, and as l have to get
down town early every morning 1t Is neces-
sary for me to devote the time usually oc-
cupied by shaving in attending to the
furnace. but never mind. summer will soon
be here and then can have a clean face
ONO. i'm