Evening star., 1948-06-13
By Alexander J. Wedderburn
Curator Of Photography
The Smifhsonion Institution

The SmithSoniun Institution
officers, Of painters, Of authors, OF
students, of clergymen, OF ambas-
sadors, OF athletes-nay, Of photog-
raphers-all are quickly resolved
into their elements by the uncap-
ping of the lens!
LET us take an example. Here Is
a group of a dozen men posed un-
der the portico of a public building.
It will serve our purpose well. We
take it up haphazard, and know not
the particular walk of life the gen.
tlemen follow. But that is mat
ter of indifference-we have no de-
sire to know how they call them
selves; we want to find out their
characteristics or idiosyncracies as
human beings. Here is one gen.
tleman well to the front; he has
whipped off his hat, so that the
headgear will not overshadow his
features, and stands staring straight
at the camera. He concentrates his
ideas on himself; he is perfectly
still and rigid, and gives not a
thought to others around. He knows
all about photography and photo
graphic portraits, and takes his
measures accordingly; his character
is easy to read. Above all, he takes
care of No. l; he may overreach
himself a little now and then. but
that he is more pushing than his
and keeps well abreast
of the world is evident. Whatever
betides, he makes things safe for
himself in his everyday career.
The Poser.
"Still examining the same group,
we choose No. 2 parsonage. He is
quite in the rear: but he is well
seen because he happens to, be
standing halfway up the steps. He
does not look at the camera-or
rather, his face is turned away from
with composed and de-
vout appearance, he is gazing into
the far distance. Was it he who
called out to his friend Jones, in
front, to move a little to the right
before the shutter fell? His hands
rest upon the knob of his umbrella
and the linen he displays-there is
a good deal of it's very white and
very limp. Apparently about the
only thing in the world about which
he is not thinking is, that he is one
of a group before the camera-at
least, so one infers from his placid
countenance. His character, you
may set down at once as of the
Pecksniffian type.
"As coming aptly after Pecksniff,
we select, for example, No. 3-a thin,
smiling figure, half elbowed out of
his place by those on either side of
him. He is quite content to be
where he is, Notwithstanding the
uncomfortable position: and he
painfully presses one arm behind
him, so that he may not incon-
venience the big bully beside him.
He enjoys the half-place permitted
him far more than parsonage No.
l, with all his vantage ground; he
is a relative of Tom Pinch, and
would still smile and beam and be
content were he eclipsed alto
gether.
The Draper.
"No. 4 parsonage is a young fellow,
who has placed himself in half
recumbent attitude on the grass in
front of the group. The fact is
that~he does not care where he
goes-the ingenious youth. Only
he is so very frank and straight
forward in his demeanor that you
cannot help thinking it is all put on,
when you come to examine closely.
His handkerchief peeps out of his
pocket and the silver-knobbed cane,
with its elegant tassel, droops from
a neatly-gloved hand. Our young
friend in front evidently lays stress
on his personal appearance and
would not feel offended If called the
AdoniS of the party.