The Strand Magazine, Vol. 01, No. 05, May 1891: An Illustrated MonthlyVarious
General
The Strand Magazine, Vol. 01, No. 05, May 1891: An Illustrated Monthly
Various
English literature -- Periodicals; Short stories, English -- Periodicals
So far, the child had been quietly sucking his thumb and surveying the
studio with an interested air, but no sooner was his attention directed
to the photographer than a distrustful frown settled upon his face, and
his irritation at the photographer's presence found expression in a
yell of infantile wrath. The more the photographer tried to conciliate
by flourishing the toys the more the child yelled. The photographer
danced and sung, and blew the penny trumpet, and was about to give up
the operation in despair, when it dawned on him that he had forgotten
the toffy stick. It was produced, and had its effect. On being assured
by Mrs. Higgins, behind the chair, that the "ducksy darling would have
its toffy stick," the youthful sitter held that prospective joy with
his tear-glistening eye, and the photographer seizing a favourable
moment performed the operation with a sigh of satisfaction. Baby
Higgins had its toffy stick, Mrs. Higgins had a pleasing photo of her
infant offspring, and the photographer proudly congratulated himself
on having so successfully performed his task. The production of such
elaborate efforts as the coloured enlargements was, however, attended
with disadvantages and disappointments at times. It was hard to give
entire satisfaction to such exacting critics in these matters as the
East-end folk, and there was always the risk that the picture might be
thrown upon his hands if not liked.
Taking it all round, his time was much more profitably employed out of
doors on high days and holidays, in taking sixpenny "tintypes" "while
you wait."
We have seen him on a Bank Holiday beaming with good luck. He has
started out early in the morning with the intention of proceeding
to Hampstead, but instead of going direct thither, he pitches his
camera near the walls of the Docks, and manages to catch a good many
passers-by before they have had the opportunity of spending their money
in the pleasures of a London Bank Holiday. Here he has succeeded in
inducing 'Arry and 'Arriet to have their photos taken.
Such is a chapter in the life of an East-end photographer. To-day he
may be doing a "roaring" business, but to-morrow he may be reduced to
accepting the twopences and threepences of children who club together
and wait upon him with a demand that he will take "Me, an' Mary Ann,
an' little Mickey all for thruppence." He invariably assents, knowing
that, though there can be little profit, the photo will create a
feeling of envy in the minds of other children who will decide on
having a "real tip topper" at sixpence.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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