White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1931-06-11

tographic outfit with him. This was
In the days Of President Grants adj
ministration.
While the trip never materialized,
George Eastman, the young bank
clerk, then and there began deep
study of photography. He had been
interested in the art from the time
he was fifteen years old, but until
he made plans for a southern trip he
had never really applied himself to
the study Of the subject.
The result Of his studies gave the
world the kodak and the modern proc
ess Of photography.
George Eastman was born in Wa
terville, N. Y, in 1854. A few years
later his father moved to Rochester
where he established commercial
school, teaching his pupils business
methods by actual experience. The
father died in 1850.
George was an only son. He was
a quiet and somewhat shy lad. His
mother made many sacrifices to keep,
him in school until he was fourteen
years old. She taught him never to
buy anything unless he could pay for
1t, with the result that he was never
In debt.
He got his first job as an Office boy
in an insurance Office. His wages
amounted to So week. He worked
his way up until he was getting 5000
year. Frequently he labored over
his books eleven hours a day.
He had chance to become a book
keeper in a savings bank at $1,000 a.
year. The young man didn't hesitate
about accepting an opportunity that
brought with it such a substantial in
crease in salary. When his pay was:
low his mother had taken in board.
ers SO as to keep a nice home for
her only son.
He was twenty years old when he
went to work in the bank. He re-
NAMED there seven years, during
which time he took up the study Of
photography in earnest in view Of his
contemplated trip to the West Indies.
He bought Genera and took lessons
on the wet plate process. Glass plates
were in use then. They had to be
sensitized before using, tedious
process.
This meant that the photographer
of the day had to carry bulky equip
ment if he worked in the field. Treat
ment of the plates made it necessary
to take silver bath and dark tent SO
as to prepare the plates properly to
| receive an image.
The amateur enthusiast took such
an equipment with him on a trip to
Lake Superior, which was a substi-
| tute for the planned but not carried
out excursion to San Domingo. His
experience on his vacation showed
him that the joys Of picture taking
could be made available to every one
| only through the perfection Of proc
ess which would substitute compact
and light equipment for the bulky
paraphernalia and eliminate the tedi-
Gus process of preparing each plate.
| Meanwhile his career in the bank
was not progressing to suit him. The
official, whose assistant he was, re-
signed his position. Young Eastman's
work had been most satisfactory. He
looked forward confidently to moving
up q notch and succeeding his imme-
| diate superior.
But he didn't get the job. The place
went to a relative of one of the direc-
tors Of the institution. That con-
vinced him that he had better get out
of the bank as soon as possible. He
determined to go on his own when
he could see his way clear to do SO.
He rented small room for his ex-
periments in the dry plate process.
He worked hard and intelligently, but
not without the disappointments that
come to all inventors. He was often
too tired to undress when he went
to bed. Frequently he slept from Sat
urday night until Monday morning,
awakening only to eat the meals his
devoted mother brought to him.
He didn't have to seek money to
finance his experiments. His mother
had taught him thrift as little fell
low and he never forgot the lesson.
He saved $3.50 the first year he
worked. He had $500 in the bank
when he was twenty-five years old.
His first Photographic equipment cost
him nearly 500.
From that he built the great In
iustrial concern which today bears
his name.
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