Year: 1875

in all Wexford, was Daniel Battles He
was 16 years of age, yet he had the repu-
tation of possessing as much knowledge
about odd and out ot-the-way things as
any ten average lads. He was believed
to have an intimate acquaintance with
every trout in the streams, and every bird
in the woods, and every rabbit in the bur-
rows. He had the largest collection of
BIRDS eggs to be found in the country;
and it was reported and solemnly believed
by all the small boys in the neighborhood,
that he had secret understanding with
the kingfishers and orioles, by which they
agreed to surrender one egg of each litter
to him, in consideration of his promise
to let all the others alone.


He was always taking up some new idea
to work out, and if he did not know all
about many things, he really seemed to
know little about everything. He knew
how to print how to bleed horses, how to
run the telegraph instrument, how to cul-
tivate silk-Worms, how to make the most
outra geous noises with his hands, how to
graft pears, how to write backwards, how
to play checkers with his eyes shut, and,
| in short, he knew how to do everything
that came in his way to learn.


One day the neighbors opened their
eyes and pricked up their ears at the news
that Dan had taken up photography; not
that they were astonished, for they had long
ceased to be astonished at anything Dan
did, but they were interested in his enter
prise, though regarding it simply as an
| other freak of a curious genius.
"Well, well,T said they, Struggling
their shoulders. Dan is an odd stick
It's about time he went into something
useful Photography, eh?"
The report was true. Dan had obtained
a camera of good size. and he was expert
menting with it, up in his eden" in one
end of his mothers garret


1t would be hard to imagine more un-
tidy, chaotic-looking place than Dams
den" 1t was full Of bottles, old cloths,
Jars bits of machinery, musical instru
ments, carpenters tools, old maps, torn
pictures, pots of paint and chemicals,
fragments of old machines, stuffed birds,
etc. and it smelled so tearfully that no
one but Dan could ever stay in it long
enough to make an inventory OF the con-
tents.


Dan was as odd looking character as
one would be likely TO see in years
travel lie was thin and lank IN the body
and legs His head was large and he had
a light blue eye, and long whitish hair,
which he rarely combed, and which strag
ged about all over his head, as if the rats
had made nests in it the last time he Slept.


He was not much of talker. lie gen
erally kept silent and stared. Nobody
| knew what an amount of thinking he did
meanwhile, and, in fact, many who
| laughed at his "greennessn had to confess
afterward that he not only saw all that
was going on, but knew more about what he
saw than the smartest of them.


Dan went on with his photographing
for several weeks He learned to take
very good pictures, but he was far from
satisfied. He grew thoughtful and almost
melancholy, and went about more careless
Of his looks than ever. His fingers We're
always stained black and brown with
acids that he could not wash off, and his
clothing always gave out the peculiar
scent Of "collodiou.H


Dams mother began really to be anxious.
The boy was growing up a loose Jack-at-
all trades, but without any peculiar turn
| for one profitable calling. 1t was neces-
sary that he should begin to earn money
pretty soon, and she was anxious that he
should choose some business and stick to
it, She took the boy in hand and eXpostu-
lated with him. Dan looked distressed,


''Tm trying to do something, mother.
I'm Just getting hold of it now, | guess.
/ | only want a little more time


This was about as long Il speech as Dan
was in the habit or making at one time,
His mother was pacitied, and tor the pres
est let him alone.


Two or three more weeks Slipped by.
Dan made pictures Of everybody he could
get before his camera. lie photographed
the cat and her kittens. He photographed
| his t'den" and all its miscellaneous trump
cry. He photographed the boys in the
street, and he photographed buildings,
| fences and trees.


Still he did not succeed to his mind.
His pictures lacked the peculiar shading OF
tone that he wanted. His dream was
to achieve this, which he believed would
not only make them very beautiful, but
give him large and profitable custom.


He labored incessantly, now trying this
plan, and now trying that, but without any
perfect result.


In the course of his experiments out OF
his garret window Dan made street pic
lures of people both near and remote, III
divers attitudes, and at nearly all hours OF
the day. Dan took them in single figures
and in groups; he took them looking up
and looking down; making gestures or
sitting still he took them as they stood in
windows and as they walked below him or
rode past in carriages. Many Of the
i photographs were clear and good, but still
the subtle finish was wanting. Dan could
not realize his dream Finally his mother
begged him to stop his amusement Gas
she called it and 60 into store or some
business where he might support himself


Dan shook his head.


Cant, mother"


But, Dan, | cannot afford to give YOU
much more money for the acids YOU
want"


"Ah = said Dan. lie shook his head
once more and looked very detected,


He was at his wits end. He believed
he was on the very verge of an important
discovery He only wanted little more
money. Where should the money come
from


This was a trying question. lie could
not imagine that any one would ever loan
him enough cash to carry out his projects,
and he did not think of any way to earn
sufficient sum. He went to his "dtn,'
and sat down in the midst OF his bottles
and rubbish, feeling uncommonly blue.
There was his camera upon its three long
legs, with its black muiiier drawn carefully
over it, and with its brass nose pointed out
into the cold air.


The boys thoughts pointed the same
way He must 90 out in the cold and
find something to do, OF some day he mieh
have to stay out in the cold. He descend
ed to the street, and wandered about the
town moody and distressed.


About this time trial was in progress
at the court. A man was charged with
passing forged check at the bank The
teller who paid the money fully Unidentified
the prisoner, described his movements
and related what was said between them
at the time with the greatest minuteness.


On the other hand, the accused indig-
nantly denied the charge, and protested
/ that ho ,uaS il, nor naar tho h.n