Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-06
HOBBY" OF BOY,
ARDENTLY FOLLOWED,
MADE MAN FAMOUS
Career of Frederick Cute
kunst Offers an Instruct
i've Example Of What
Persistence Can Accom-
plish.

When a boy has a harmless hobby, let
| MIN alone. He may have some definite
purpose that he doesn't want to tell you
anything about. It may appear foolish to
you when he comes home from school
and starts TO litter the yard or the cellar
with lot Of home made contrivances.
Unfortunately this Is just the time that
mothers notice that the grass needs cut
ting or something is wanted at the corner
grocery Such interruption has undoubt-
edly cost the world many inventions.
Right in our midst there Is such boy
although at the present time his hair Is
white. When he was IL years old he was
indentured to a lawyer But the dry
looking law books with their jaw-break-
ing words and complicated sentences
didn't appeal to him For six years he
struggled with them but on the q,t. he
was fussing around with electrical appa-
ratus and various chemicals. He used to
get cents for his lunch. He spent
cent for cake and the other went for
chemicals. All this time he got 81
week. Finally the youngster obtained a
Job at Nlett & Dallam's drug store which
was then at 9Th and Callowhill streets.
His connection with chemicals finally
aroused an interest in photography. 1t
always puzzled him how persons fea-
lures could be transferred to a plate. He
decided that he would fathom 1t on his
own account. On obtaining a position
with another drug store at an increase
In salary he laid aside enough money to
attend the College of Pharmacy. After
graduating from there the photography
hobby was in him stronger than ever.
But he had to work at something which
would bring him a definite weeks wages,
so he took a fairly good job in a Market
street drug store. At night and during
his spare time he experimental in pho
Biography, and, with the aid of his father,
finally constructed q crude camera. on
the following day he met a man who had
n lens, rare thing in those days, and
gave the last S. he had in the world for 1t.
He made his own plates by coating them
with collodion and was finally able to
take pictures of his friends in the rear
Of the Market street store.
The boys brother Louis, who was an
observant chap, told him one day that
his pictures were as good as any in the
city. The youthful photographer was
greatly encouraged, but did not share his
brothers enthusiasm. A few nights later,
while walking down Arch street, by the
merest chance. the youth saw that there
was a store for rent at No. 706 He men
toned the matter casually to his brother
and was amazed a few days later to
hear that the energetic Louis had leased
the place for him.
So in a day or two Frederick Cute
kunst started in business as o photog-
.rapher-and he has been at 1t ever since
He is now 81 years young and works hard
to keep himself youthful. 1t Is just 50
years since he moved from 7O6 to 712
Arch, his present headquarters.
The walls of his establishment aid in
telling the nations progress, for they are
adorned with the photographs OF Presi-
dents, Governors, Mayors. statesmen,
actors and prominent men of letters
whose fame is worldwide.
Some came from distant points to be
photographed; others were taken" while
here on important missions. President
Grant, Edwin Booth and Edwin Forrest
have sat in the same chair in the Cute
kunst studio
So don't discourage hobbies.