Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-03
THE EVENING STORY.
NATURAL SELECTION.
BY FLORENCE wooLsToN.

When Brady. the photographer. moved
TO Pearl street his friends predicted fail
ure. Pearl street was a neighborhood of
poor people and money for luxurieS was
scarce. Photographers. had come and
photographers had gone. but Brady was
different His studio was enriched by a
variety of secondhand costumes. some
of the more striking ones having been
discarded by his actress e. while
others had been sold to him by members
of the profession. Brady reasoned that
soiled and discoiored clothes. although
unsuitable for the stage, might still do
very well for decorative photography
Thus his patrons might appear in any
character they desired. Few of the resi-
dents OF the vicinity could afford the
fashionable attire appropriate for sue
cessful portraiture, but garbed as a Jan
anese, Martha Washington a fisherman
or an Indian they shone resplendeut in
the eyes of all their friends Brady was
also versatile in the matter of back
ground. using with large prodigaltty
Niagara Falls, the Alps, the ocean or a
snowstorm.
N1illy Linden. who secretly cherished
Camille and experienced thereby at
ieast half the pleasures of a stage
career Mrs. Blish, whose nautical ad-
ventures had been confined to an occa-
Sionai ride on a ferry. was equally de-
iiShted to see herself in Yachting cos
tune seated on a coil of ropes. n life
preServer at her feet. James Bowie
once ambitious to be an Indian fighter
was able to distribute post cards on
~iileh ne appeared as scout of the
Suster variety All these examples OF
Brady's skill captivated the neishhor-
hood ard nearly every family was taken,
elther slngly or en- masse. Among those
VINO followed these achievements with
ehg1ouS eyes was Mrs Schwind, who
ardentl5- desired to possess a group pic
ture of herself. Mr.. Schwind and the
twelve little Schwinds
On the day that Mrs. Middleton DROP
ped in to show E,lviras latest picture in
peasant costume. Mrs. Schwind's longing
again asserted itself. and she ventured
to ask her neighbours opinion on the
subject
Il hear she said. that Brady's takin'
tradin' stamps for cash. I've got a book
most done, and 1 was kinder thinkin of
gettin' us taken.
You'd make grand picture. too hav-
ing SO many children Why don't you
try for the prize?"
Il never heard they was any. Who's
givin' prizes?''
THE Elite Ladies World is offering
=
last month. but I didn't read it careful;
having only Elvira 1 seen it was not for
me-"
Gould you give me the lend of the
Elite Ladies' World?' asked Mrs.
Schwind. eagerly. Maybe we could get
In it. We're large enough, land knows"
The thought of a photograph with the
possibility of prize was new and de-
lightful. Mrs. Schwind could hardly wait
for her guests departure that she might
send Mary over to borrow the precious
magazine When it came she turned
over the pages anxiously. and breathed q
sigh of relief on discovering a family
picture of seven. with this inscription un-
derneath:
Is YOUR PICTURE HERE?
IF NOT WHY NOT:
FAMILY CONTEST.
FIFTY DOLLAR. PRIZES IN GOLD.
Mr.. Thomas Blackwell. believing with
eX-President Roosevelt that large fami-
lies are national asset, offers a prize
each month for the best picture of a
large family. Send your picture at once
This is the greatest contest of the age.
Mrs. Scl1wind waited impatiently for
Jim to come home. and as soon as he en-
tered the house she called to him:
Say. Jim, how'd you like to make fifty
dollars?"
You're talking big, Ma. What's struck
you?"
Well she affirmed, we could do it
easy"
The easiest way I know of is to get
life insured and then die returned jim.
skeptically.
In answer she put the Elite Ladies'
World into his hand
Read THAR she commanded, triumph
antly.
Jim read the brilliant offer of the mag
azine and then exclaimed contemptuously:
Now, amt that just like a woman.
How you going to get the picture took?
Brady amt giving them away. How
much does he charger
Il amt sure, but he takes tradin'
stamps for cash, and I've got a book
most done. Run over there after supper
and see what he'll take US for
Ma" put in Eloise. could we be TAX
en- fancy? The Sullivans are in Japa-
nese, and it's grand. all wrappers and
fans and paper flowers
No, sir" announced Jim firmly. mo
Japs for mine. According to the papers
there's likely to be a war any day, and
then where'd we be in Jap's clothes? No,
sir
Il thought. said Mrs; schwind. ''oeln'
so many of US. we might get a variety.
Eloise, you could be historic and the
twins as Indians. Pa and me could be
like country folks. Mrs. George had one
that was awful cute. Her in a big hat
a basket of eggs
That might do" Jim answered, some
what Modified. But Brady'll know best
how we ought to look. That's his biz :
While Jim was over making inquiries
Mrs. Schwind organized rehearsal and
expressed great satisfaction as she view
ed her family arranged as series of
steps. from tall Eloise to tiny Thomas
jr.
Helene. run over and get Mrs Mid
dleton," she suggested. II want her to
take a look.
Mrs. Middleton responded at once,
Elvira.
"Jim's over to Brady's.' explained Mrs
Schwind. We may try for the prize if
it amt too expensive. There was only
seven in the picture that got the prize
this month, and there's twelve of u.s.
Its too bad that little Mabel died on
you said Mrs. Middleton, who always
Mabel tenderly, as she was
just Elvira's age. ''If you could get cred
II for her you'd have thirteen. Elvira,
step in there between Mary and Willie"
That's elegant Mrs. Schwind ex-
viewing the completed steps with
1T makes them just even
1t does seem too bad If were goin' in the
Elite Ladies' World that Mabel should
have to miss it. Maybe you'd be willing
to let Elvira take her place. She favors
Mabel, and bein' her size it helps OUT
Mrs Middleton. always glad of an OPP
portunity to exhibit the charms of her
only child. readily complied. When Jim
returned he agreed that the group thus
completed could hardly fail to outdistance
all competitors.
BRADY charges according to the