40 THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, . 0 IJXE 14, 1903. E-R-ROKS TO BE AVOIDED By AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPH E"RS rlTH all efforts to be careful, the most zealous student will some times make the mistake, -while un capping-, of holding the cap within the range of the lens. The result Is a dark shadow which completely veils the whole or a portion of his picture, as In Illustra tion No. 7. It is well, when uncapping, to draw the cap quickly down below the lens thus avoiding the chance of such an accident: but it is better still to have a shutter placed over the lens, which can be done at a reasonable cost, and thus leave the mind free from the necessity of this precaution. The eame dark shadow Is also produced by inadvertently allowing the focusing cloth to dip or fall over the lens after the cap has been removed. Many otherwise fine pictures have been ruined by thought lessness like this. While upon the subject of uncapping the lt-ns I would mention another thoughtless error that I have sometimes seen made. I have been with amateurs who have fo cussed the picture, replaced the cap upon the lens, draw the slide from the plate holder, timed the exposure, returned the slide to the plate-holder, and In their anx iety to obtain a very beautiful result have entirely forgotten to uncap the lens. In most of these Instances I have noted the error, remained quiet, and Informed the operator only when the plate was being developed. This was done on my part more thoroughly to impress the error on the mind of the operator. VIII Doubling, or Talcing: Two PIc tnrcs on One Plate. The amateur wno lias not experienced tills ludicrous effect of his carelessness will perhaps not appreciate the present chapter. tRilnk of having spent evcral hours tramping over hill and dale, and focusing carefully some charming prospects, only to discover when the plates are developed that two lovely but distinctly unlike pic tures appear, to the utter destruction of each other, upon one negative. Your time and labor, as well as your plates, In such cases, have been wasted. Yet this is not an uncommon occurrence even among professionals. To avoid it, number your plate-holders consecutively, from one up ward, and place them In their respective order when loading your box. When you expose these plates always begin at the lowest number, and Immediately after the exposure is made Jot It down in a handy memorandum book. Another excellent plan Is to have marked upon the rim of the slide (not upon the body of the slide, as a white painted letter would retain enough light to cause an imprint upon the negative) the word "exposed." By this means the holders, which, when loaded, have the black edge In view, after they have been exposed will make the fact apparent by the painted word. Should you use a roll film, do not fail to turn the spool immediately after taking a picture. Make this your absolute custom on all occasions, and you will escape the disappointing experiences illustrated by plate No. S. IA" Halo or Ghost. This appearance is not of frequent oc currence,, and is peculiar to the work of WHO "ELIZABETH" IS rHO Is "Elizabeth"? This question lias come many times to members of The Orego- nlan staff the past three months from readers "to whom Elizabeth's letters ap peal. They ask: Where does she live? Are her letters "made up" or are they genuine? Is she a new-comer or an old timer? An amateur or a professional writer? Does she write her own experi ences or record another's? Are tho inci dents she sets down inventions or actual happenings? Is she a Portland woman or Is her home In the country ?.s she young or mature? - To answer these questions summarily, be it said that "Elizabeth" Is exactly who she says she is the wife of- a farmer in the Coast Range of mountains about 100 miles from Portland, and at least a day's Journey from the nearest postofllce. Her letters Indicate that she has lived In Ore gon about a year and a half. No. one ' about The Oregonian office is acquainted with her personally, and, if she ever wrote , for publication before, she has not men- j tloned the fact It would seem that "Elizabeth" is past 23, though she may be younger or older. She Is very diffident, and she has declared most positively that, except for the protection of a nom de plume, she would have been obliged to abandon her correspondence with "NelL" No fibubt many readers of The Sunday Oregonian who -now look forward with pleasure to her letters missed her first contribution. It is republished today merely to show "Elizabeth's" wild en vironment. Apologizing in a private note to the office last Winter for a long gap be tween letters, "Elizabeth" told of her iso lation and tho almost impassable roads, and mentioned Incidentally that for four months she had not spoken to a soul ex cept "Tom" and the men on tho ranch. It was this lack of association with their own kind that impelled them to give .-human names to animals and fowls. Several weeks ago when there was prom ise of fine weather and good roads, the Sunday editor wrote to "Elizabeth" ask ing her to givo the route to her home, so that a reporter might reach it to inter view her and get a picture of her house and her portrait to use as a vignette with it.Tb.ls iher answer: Your letter of the ll'tlC" received on tho ISth, has murdered ray sleep for the past two nights not the complimentary part, but that talk of the "sending of a bright re porter for a Btory of "Elizabeth and picture of her home and of herself.' Ye godst I can hardly think "on It and lire." If this bo "the penalty of success," then give me fail ure, age. even death. Truly. Mr. , noth ing In all this world could be raoro distaste ful to me. and you would believe mo If you knew my natural timidity and horror of pub licity. But for the shelter of a nom de plume, I could never have written a line. I have "no story for the public and no picture." "When about 12 years of age. I had a picture taken which very successfully squelched iifir ther aspirations along that line. That was my first and last. Elizabeth as a "vignette." Heavens! How could I sleep under the shadow of such a possibility? I had to look up "vignette" in the dictionary "a picture which vanishes gradually at the edge." I liked the vanishing feature; only when you make mine, please start the vanishing effect from the center. No. Elizabeth is like the Southern Con federacy. All sho asks is to be let alone la her little old box house up In the wilderness. She was born to blush unseen and she prayer fully entreats you that "you will not press down this crown of thorns upon the brow of labor," and I am going to ask as a special tavnr that 5ou write at once and tell n Truly, the very thought of It makes me so uncomfortable and so foolishly nervous that I shall not be ablo to begin another letter to "iteil" until you save lifted the pall. Iast September Elizabeth submitted her first letter, with tho following modest note addressed to the editor: Will you, by kindly reading the accom panying SISS., ascertain if It bo worthy a p'xlco la your columns? It U possessed of CHARLES M. TAYLOR TELLS HOW NOVICES MAY KEEP AWAY FROM DISAPPOINTMENTS BY EXERCISING A LITTLE CARE AO. VII TOO DEEP amateurs and beginner?. It Is caused by light, either reflected or direct, falling upon the lens of the camera. Sometimes, j after all your precautions, this ghost, as it Is called, will steal in and rob you of a perfect picture. Inspect carefully all conditions before uncapping, and make sure that no light. at least one merit that of being a real ex perience. I have found this life so novel and eventful that, thinking others might bo In terested, have thought of a series of letters descriptive of the trials and triumphs of Inexperienced ranchmen. We are all en thusiastic admirers of the State of Oregon. What I shall say will. In the main, be not only favorable, but entirely complimentary. If you can make use of what I have written, please do. so at your own valuation, and If an occasional letter would be acceptable, I should be glad to furnish It. If you cannot use this, will you kindly return as soon as possible? Yours very sincerely. MRS. . Poetofllce. Oregon, Sept, 24, 1902. And now the readers of the Sunday Ore gonian know as much about "Elizabeth" as those who publish and pay for her contributions, except her name which doesn't matter. Here is: ELIZABETH'S KIRST LETTER. MY Dear Nell You write that you were amazed to hear that we had sold our comfortable city homes, bundled our household possessions into a freight car, and had whirled off to Oregon with the foolish and pastoral notion of locating on ranches, and that you had Indignantly said: "The whole quartet must be as mad as March hares to do such a reckless thing at their time of "life." Tho allusion to lunacy may be forgiven; to age, never. We may not be so young as we used to be, but are not yet quite In our dotage. Don't you taiow. my friend, that monot ony is stagnation and death, to the middle-aged? Tney need change of scene and the novelty and excitement that comes with It. The tonic of fresh fields and pastures new is both stimulating "and rejuvenating, and the Oregon air Is an intoxicant like wine, so pure, so fresh and exhilarating. We drank it in with praise and thanksgiving. Tom says his lungs have expanded to such a degree that he feels quite pigeon-breasted. You ask if we have found our ranch? Yes. Do you like it? We are delighted with If, How did you find It? Rather strangely; last Summer, in a purely ac cidental way, there drifted to us a littlo pamphlet from a real estate agent, la which we learned more than we had ever known of the beauties and attractions of Oregon. We read of her many glorious, snow-capped mountains, of great, dim for ests, of sparkling, trout-laden streams. of wooded hills and fertile, blossoming valleys, swiftly flowing rivers, and tho many fern-shaded, vine-clad springs of cool, delicious water, gushing from rock and hillside, etc From that hour the virus was in our blood. Wc said: Let us no longer stand shivering upon the brink; let us close our eyes to 'all doubts and forebodings, "trust to luck and stare fate in the face." And so the leap into the unknown was taken, landing us In a small town here, in the height of tho rainy season. Then "under skies that were ashefc and sober," began the search for our new homes. It was like search ing for the golden fleece. Hunting: for n Home. In response to an inquiry concerning real estate agents, strange coincidence the first name suggested was one famil iar to us as the author of the little book whoso beguiling eloquence had led us across mountains, plains and desert to the promised land. We at once took pos session of the only vacant home In the town, a small, leaky-roofed cottage. In an advanced state of decay, unpacked a few goods, merely enough with which to do light homekeeping. while our lords were searching for the new Arcadia. Day after day they went forth clad in brand new, glistening rubber suits, almost as hideous as a diver's outfit, we tossing old shoos after them for luck. Night inva riably brought them home, tired, hungry and disappointed, always something wrong. The ranches either too large or too small; not enough tillable land or too much, and a scarcity of timber; either no water on the place or a deluge of it. So It went on day after day, week In and week out, until we began to compare them to Martin Chuszlewlt and Mark Tapley in search of their Eden. But at last, one glad day, capricious A SHADOW. direct or reflected, falls upon the lens. Sometimes the sun shining upon a window pane will cast a reflection upon the lens and evolve the ghost. X The Shadow of the Operator. The appearance of this upon the negative would be impossible If tho picture wero made at noon or thereabouts, when the Indcntity of the "Woman "Who "Writes Charm ing Letters to Nell Revealed. Fate, relenting, led them straight up the green and shining hills of Paradise into the country of the "Pointed Firs," where In a little emerald basin tney found the enchanted land. A place large enough to be divided, making two ranches, each provided with both tillable and wood land, a consummation devoutly wished, yet ono for which we had scarcely dared hope. You may be sure there was great re joicing and a hurrying to and fro, a hasty repacking of goods and much, searching for means for their transportation. It was difficult to find men willing to brave the horrors of the mountain rocks with leaded wagons during the rainy season. After a delay of two days, three parties with teams reluctantly consented to come to our rescue, which they did, bringing no tarpaulin or any kind of protection for our goods. Wo had ono outfit of our own, and when the four wagons pulled out Mao, and I could not but look a bit regretfully after our household treasures, fully exposed to both rain and mud, dur ing a drive of 20 miles. Owing to the almost impassable condition of the roads only light loads could be taken, conse quently eight long days were spent with this herculean task. Getting to the Home. They drove up one day and back tho next, passing tho intervening night in the old deserted home. Finally, on the 13th of January, In' the year of our Lord, 1302, came the glad morning of our release from the leaky, dismal and now empty cottage. The last load was vanishing down the street. At the door stood our newly ac quired surrey a second-hand one, I hast en to say, Nell, lest you begin to think up a lecture on extravagance a queer looking, old thing, not unlike a palanquin on wheels. It was loaded to the guards. As wo stowed ourselves away within its gloomy Interior, the school children, at the risk of tardy marks, halted to wit ness tho Imposing start, nudging one an other and giggling furtively. By the way, if the Atchlnson Globe man Is still in quiring what has become of the children whose noses require attention, wo are pre pared to give him definite Information. We started out with Tom holding the lines and a yard of breakfast bacon, while his knees clasped a five-gallon can of kero sene. Bert was clinging desperately to a cuckee clock, a sugar-cured ham, and a huge sheaf of rose-cutting. He sat so em bowered In green leaves that ho much re sembled a May Queen. Mary breathed heavily under the pressure of eight pounds of best creamery butter and a kerosene lamp, with a very large shade; a most ag gressive thing with Javelln-Hke points. Forming a sort of barricade in front of me wero piled 12 loaves of baker s bread. four boxes of shredded wheat biscuits and two roast chickens. The driver, glancing back over the fortifications, remarked "If tho enemy should attack us from the front, your position, Elizabeth, is well nigh Invulnerable." Add to these things three umbrellas, two satchels, a lunch basket and a horse collar, then do you wonder tho children giggled? Why that horse collafwas with us remains a dark mystery to this day. On a, Ronffb Road. A denso fog prevailed as we left the vil lage, for which we were than rather grate ful, as It prored an effective screen for our disreputable exit. We were hoping It might rise later, as there were fine views en route of Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson and the Three Sisters; but instead of dis sipating It gradually thickened, until we were enveloped in a heavy, gray vapor, giving us a strange sense of isolation. All landmarks vanished, the world slipped away; we seemed afloat on a "wide, wide sea." We could see absolutely nothing, but out patient, striving horses, and oc casionally the dim outlines of an old rail fence Upon one. like a lone sentry, sat a great brown, owl, as motionless and rigid as if cast in bronze. Once from a near-by" Held came the clear voice of a meadow lark, strangely sweet those di vine notes floating up from that misty obscurity. We had started out In the morning quite hilariously, but as tho dif ficulties and dangers of the road In creased, talk grew desultory, and at last we rode In grim silence. The mud seemed bottomless, and the never-ending hills some almost perpendicular. With locked wheels we simply slid down those, only to crawl up others, lurching Into yawning SO. X SHADOW OP OPERATOR. sun Is overhead; but it must be guarded against when the rays of light are slant ing and objects cast long streaks of shadow. I have seen may valuable studies spoiled by neglecting these principles. The operator generally becomes so engrossed In his work that he forgets to consider the position of his double. Should his chuckholes with such violence the kero sene splashed and the green bower swayed from side to side as if a cyclone had struck It. It was at such times that Mary's lamp shade got In its murderous work. Glaring her way through the fog, I saw that remonstrances were futile. Her feet were planted on the horse collar, her lips closed with Napoleonic firmness, her hat jammed over one eye, the other blaz ing with a high resolve to carry intact to its goal that lamp-shade, though every living friend and relative fell by the way side. As we advanced, tho woods grew denser, the road curving around narrow mountain ledges, above deep, dark can yons, where, crowding close, tier upon tier. In watchful guardianship, stood the som ber sentinel firs. A slip of a foot or two and we would have been hurled into the bottomless pit. A native Oregonian may serpentine his way nonchalantly on the edge of these craters, but to a tenderfoot they bring pimples of gooseflesh, as night brings out the stars. For miles our ad vance seemed only characterized by a suc cession of shudders. Twice did we ford mountain streams swollen by recent rains until they had become tumbling, boiling cataracts, with currents dangerously swift. These streams had rocky beds, and our oldJirk quivered and creaked on Its stormy passage. As the foaming waves leaped for us, I shut tight my eyes, doubled up my toes and thought well, at last, the end has come. When the rush of water ceased, I felt that we were scram bling up the opposite bank, and, opening my eyes, saw tho dripping horses once more upon terra firm a. Like the ranks of Tuscany, I could "scarce forbear to cheer." I am sorry, Nell, to take leave of you in the fog and gloom of the forest, with night coming on; but the night of this" day Is coming also, and with it Tom, striding down our woodsy hill like a hardy Norse man, upon, his shoulder his shining ax gleaming as did "Excallbur" of old That he Is ravenously hungry goes without say ing. Ever since we came to theso shores his appetite has been as a worm that never dleth. In my. next letter I shall conduct you to the shelter of our rancho. but now epistolary pleasures must give way for culinary duties. Yours ever, from "Where rolls the Oregon' ELIZABETH. September, 1902. (UPPER) X O. VIII shadow not come within the limits of the picture to be taken it would not interfere with the success of his photograph, but when it encroaches upon the view he Is about to represent, as in plate No. 10, the picture Is spoiled. To prevent the presence of this Intruder, make your exposures about the time of ADE'S FABLE IN SLANG NCE there was a Rhinestone sport who had an ambition to be called a Good Fellow. He had a cousin Jim who was known in Rapid Circles as a Prince, so he de cided to trail along after Jim and get in among the Rowdy-Dows. Jim was full of Wise Talk about the Ponies. Ever and anon he would care lessly fish out of the Side-Pocket a. large Wad of the Green Kind with a Fifty for a Wrapper and tell about sitting In with a couple of Horsemen and a Wine Agent the Night before. He loved to speak of Hotels where a Swell Room with Bath came to only $9 per Day, and explain that he was getting a Rate. Jim felt that he was wasting his Con versation any time he mentioned 'any Picayune Sum under a Thousand. He had nothing but Sporting Corpuscles of the Crimson Variety moving about in his Ar teries. He was ready to lay a Small Bet on any. Proposition, give or take, and when he put up his End ho never batted an Eye-Lash. He had the Confidence of many of our most celebrated Bar keeps, and could give the Hurry-Up to any well known Gam. No wonder that pale-faced Herbert, the would-be High Roller, looked with Awe upon Cousin Jim and Inwardly longed to butt Into his Class. For he perceived that he never could stand Ace with the sure-enough Fellows until he had demonstrated that he was a Good reilotv. Jim slipped hini a Tow-LIne and took him out Into the Night Alrto pick up a few Pointers. Herbert learned that the first Rule for being a Good Fellow was to move rap idly up to the Poison Counter every time "an Order went in. Herbert weighed about 100 Pounds, and the Doctors had told him to try a Milk Diet, but he did not dare to renlg, otherwise some one might have GKXTXEMAX PJCAYEXS "Wlfo HAD GROWN TOO STOXTT TWO PICTURES OX OXE PLATE. (LOWER) XO. IX HALO OR GHOST. the sun's meridian, or place your camera at the side of the subject, or Increase the distance between the camera and the ob ject to be photographed. It Is to be remembered that, should you make your exposures about the time of the sun's meridian, your results will be more fiat and lifeless than if made at an suspected that he was a cheap "Varnish ; and a low-down Quitter. He was a Feather-Weight and an Invalid, but he wanted to be Girce. So he stood hi Line with the copper lined Rounders vzho had Bull Necks and weighed about 220 on the Hoof and made an awful Bluff at going along with them. He knew that tc take Vichy would be a Misdemeanor, end to duck altogether would be a crime, tnd might block him out of the Good Fellow Division for all time to come. Consequently he would Stick, with his Breast-Bon against the Railing, and con tinue to hoist until", he was Pie-Eyed. Then come one would take him out and boost him into a four-oared Hack and send him home. Next Morning he wouldj awake with the Head spread out oter two Pillows, and his only Joy In Life would be the proud Remembrance that he had demonstrated his desire to be a Good Fellow. He learned, also, that In order to be the genuine It he must go to the Track and get on friendly Terms with Whisper ing Ike, the Boy who holds the Watch on the Morning Gallops and gets a Commis sion from all the Poorhouses. In a Short Time he had a lot of Goed Stories about being nosed out and was sleeping with the Dope-Sheet under his Pillow. Although he went $1200 to the Bad on the Meeting, he made the Per sonal Acquaintance of at least a dozen Celebrities who wore Red Vests, carried Field-Glasses and bet nothing but Mark erstherefore he had the glad knowl edge that he was slowly but surely ab sorbing some of the Attributes which dis tinguish the Good Fellow from other Members of the Brute Creation. After all, the only cinch Method for be coming a steam-heated Gazabe is to ex hibit a tall Nerve in a cut-throat Ses sion of the Game that made Congress famous. Cousin Jim knew a lot of Gen tlemen Players who were devoting their Attention to Poker because they were getting too Fat to climb Porches. As a Special Favor he fixed It so Herbert could get a Place at the Table. It war a Proud Moment.for the Amateur when he sat In that Distinguished Com- TO CLIJtB I? OK CUES. other time of tho day, either before or after the noon hour. It Is desirable to have your subject r II lighted and well modeled In shade; th'3 gives character and effect to the picture. It is very monotonous to the eye t" view a landscape flat in color and void of con trast as regards effects in light and shade. Of the Honest Effort to go the Distance, and Then the Melancholy Fluke. pany and began to pick up Hands and then put them down again. The Shetp that walked Into Armour's Packlng-Houce had the same kind of chance that Her bert had when he but his Elbows on the Green Cloth and tried to keep from trem bling. He haa been against the oae-call-two Boarding-House Game where they hanl back everything over $2, but he was not accustomed to dallying with Friends who took out Pencils and began to figure how much they could get on his Clothes. They were the kind that started in to play just about where he left off. The only Reason they didn't kill him with the Ante was because ho looked so Good to them that they wanted to keep him in. It was one of the Games that begin to get ripe about the time the Church Bells are ringing. The Trimmers' Union had no way of knowing that they would ever get to him again, so they decided to make one Job of It. After Herbert had signed up all the Checks and put a Cold Towel on his Head, he began to Roar somewhat and talk about chopping on the all-night Seances. "You must not Beef," said Cousin Jim. "A True Sport never lets on, even when they unbuttoa his Shoes." "Do you know, I sometimes suspect that I am not qualified to be a "Hot Dog," said Herbert, "I find that I begin to pass away about 2 A, M. Perhaps it Is owing to some Oversight In my Early Training, but I notice that after I have taken a thousand Drinks, I cannot put the Red Ball Into the Corner Pockets. I have a Timid Nature, and somehow I can not learn to whoop the Edge on a. Pair of Nines. I'm afraid that I drank too much Rainwater in my Youth. And be sides, I &ot into the Habit of going to Bed. It's a great Blow to my Pride, but I don't think I am galted to keep-up with tho Bell-Cows. Me back to the Cheap Push at the Boarding-House." Moral: Many are Called but few deliver the Goods. (Copyright, 1903.) PRAISES MRS. DYE'S BOOK Governor Pardee, of California, Read It With Great Interest. Since the publication of Mrs. Eva Em ery Dye's latest book, "The Conquest," Bhe has been in constant receipt of let ters from autograph huntera and other admiring readers of her romantic West ern historical works. Through her pub lishers also she has received hundreds of letters complimenting her books In the highest terms. Many people of National distinction are among Mrs. Dye's correspondents, and among the letters received by her publish ers are 35 written by Governors. Governor Pardee's letter is of especial interest, and is as follows: Messrs. A. C. ifcClurg & Co., Chicago Gen tlemen: I have Just finished reading, with trait Interest, Eva Emery Dye's "The Con quest." As i CaUfornlan Interested In all that pertains to the history of the Paclac Coast, the book has captured me completely Filled as It la with th "small talk and gossip cf history," so to speak, its perusal has gives mo the keenest pleasure, and I thank you for It. Very truly your?, GEORGE C, PARDEE. Great Aid to Philosophy. Philadelphia North American. John D. Long, ex-Secretary of the Navy, publicly rejoices that he is not a rich man. He says he would not exchange his freedom, home life and content of heart for the wealth of a Morgan or a Carnegie. Eut If Mr. Long were really poor he might not flhd it so easy to despise riches. Riches are relative. Mr. Long has free dom from debt, from daily toil, from anx iety for the future, from worry about what may happen to his family when he shall be taken from them. He has a home and; home life at Its best, and he has content of heart and mind. There are millions of men who have none cf these things, and Mr. Long is as rich In comparison with them as Morgan and Carnegie are rich in comparison with tilm. It Is easy to bc phlloPhical on a f aw thousands a year.