The new era., 1910-12-08

interest in places things to curiosity regardii
the actual appearance Of the people regarding who
doings the papers had much to say. 1t was n
enough that the newspapers should print as a cou
terfeit presentment of this or that public man
carefully posed bust portrait touched up to show tt
subject he wanted to appear rather than as
he actually did appear. Newspaper readers with
a thirst for accurate information came to demand
pictures that would show the subjects as they
actually appeared. Moreover, they wanted not
commonplace bust photo but a full-lengh pic
ture that would represent its object as he would
appear to who met him on the street and
with hint as to his distinctive characteristics
as to dress. etc. From this demand was born the
personal SNAP shot.
Nowadays the snapshot is to a large extent
displacing the stereotyped visage in the public
prints Almost everybody who achieves fame
notoriety must must needs fall victims to the
sharpshooters of the camera The snapshotter is
respecter of persons or callngs 80 long as nu-
man interest" Is present, and everybody from
preachers to pug1lists and from statesmen 10
suffragists, is the quarry Of the camera scout at
time another. Some of the people who are
snap-shotted manifestly relish It; great number
accept 1t as a matter Of course and a minority
wriggle and squirm and even fight at sight OF
a camera Conspicuous among the latter are
Harry Lehr. the Newport society pet OF monkey
dinner fame, and ]. Pierpont Morgan. the nnan
oier. It must be admitted that the father OF
trusts does not make pretty picture when taken
unawares and he evidently realizes this, for he Is
lusually guarded by several private detectives
when he appears in public and carries cane
which he is quick to any offending camera
that he reach.
Public officials. headed by the president of the
United States usually the most satisfactory
subjects for snapshots because. whatever may
be their natural inclination in the matter. they
quickly learn to submit gracefully to this sort
Of attention. leading statesman or army or
navy official who realizes that at public functions
he ts liable to be continually in the camera eye
is likely to instinctivey avoid those awkward
attitudes and facial grinaces that sometimes spoil
things In the of a celebrity who is new to
the game and selfconscious in consequence. From
the standpoint Of the snapshotters perhaps tho
most satisfactory subjects in this country the
diplomats at Washngton-that Is, the alien ON
cials who are stationed at our seat Of government
a. the ambassadors or ministers Of foreign pow.
ers For one thing. these titled foreigners are
possessed of gorgeous uniforms that show up
we'll in unconventional pictures, and then again
they are accustomed to being constantly on dress
parade.
Tho snap-shotter must quick on the trigger
and he cultvates ability in this direction almost
a. earnestly as the gun fighter Of the west did
In the old days. Tho newspaper snapshots are
made by means of special cameras made specially
for the purpose. and costing much as $3.50
apiece Only a fraction Of a second is required.
Of course, to make a snapshot, onoe the lens is
focused upon a celebrity in desired position. but
the uncertainty lies in the fact that the celebrity
n seldom actually posing for his picture. More
than likely he may not realize that he 10 being
caught by the camera or mayhsp may be trying