The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1907-09-12
"Beauty" and
"7he Beast
BY DR.. John
Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowles)

About a year and a half ago l in.
vested In a detective camera, and al
though l made the purchase with
many doubts as to the rlerits of these
wee machines, l candidly confess to-
day that it has served me well.
look at 1t almost with reverence; 1t
has not won me fame, but it has made
my fortune.
And this Is how 1t came about:
l was attending medical lectures,
and had a short railroad journey to
and from the city every day. My
train down in the morning, coming
from away up north, was often late,
80 l sometimes took my camera with
me and amused myself while waiting
by photographing many an unsuspect-
ing victim on the depot platform. One
week In particular, l had unusually
good success. and l found when |
came to develop my plates that | had
thsee fine negatives, so after l had
printed my proofs, 1 carried them tri-
umphantly down to the parlor to show
the girls" as the two misses, my sis
tiers, were usually called
One Of my pictures was the likeness
OF young lady. l think it was one
Of the prettiest faces / have ever
seen; nor was | alone In my admira-
ton; all agreed that she was charm
ing, such beautiful features, such q
sweet expression, such an intelligent
face.
Picture No. 2 was the round chubby
face of little, ragged urchin, whom
l occasionally saw around the depot,
Picture No. 3 we all pronounced the
homeliest girl we had ever seen. l
photographed her for that very rea-
son; because she looked SO placidly,
contentedly ugly, resigned to her fate,
We named the picture Beauty" and
THE Beast" 1t was shame, was it
not, for who would not be handsome
II 1t were possible?
My sisters loved to tease, and it
was long before / heard the last Of
those pictures; 1t was long time be-
fore i felt the last OF them. / could
not get that sweet face out OF my
mind. ! watched day after day on
the train. eagerly hoping for another
glimpse Of it; but l was again and
again disappointed. Why should l
care so much for stranger, whom |
had never met? l was thoroughly
provoked with myself. Yet ] was OBJ
stinately determined that | must and
would see her again. To Judge whether
my likeness was true? But the boy
or The Beast" would have done as
well for that.
About that time friend, Fred
Barnes, came to spend night with
me, and OF course / showed him my
pictures. He merely glanced at that
favorite face and threw 1t aside.
could have shaken him. He took more
interest In the homely one, and when
ne said that he did not think she was
ugly, we made all manner Of fun Of
him.
IF you call that goo1-looking,"
remarked. Il truly pity an ugly WON
an"
Well, the term Of lectures came to
an end, examinations and the crown
ing time, when l found IN. self a doc
tor Of medicine.
All these important events, so much
to All my head and hands, and yet
they had not crowded out that old
nagging memory. Every day | used
to get out that picture and gaze at It,
l hate sentimental youth, and could
have kicked myself every time | did
it, and yet | kept right on. Was fate
driving me? | was not to begin my
regular professional work until
autumn. 1t vas arranged that | was
to spend week with my friend, Fred
Barnes, and then join party going
to the mountains
Late one afternoon reached Fred $
home. The family We're assembled to
greet me. his mother, and Great!
Well, | do not swear, but never came
so near 1t in my life as | did then--it
was The Beast" his sister. II the
floor had opened l would have willing
ly been swallowed up; If | could have
rushed out of the house, but no,
4 20. all