THE CAMERA 251 



as equalling that of the high-priced ter. I think the determination after 



anastigmat, then again Why? These all is the keynote to the whole thing, 



manufacturers are experts in their busi- I can imagine that when a very poor 



ness. They do not argue. They act. person determines to keep clean that 



They know, and in the confidence bom some other good things will accom- 



of that exact and positive knowledge, pany the cleanliness. 

 they act. I cannot imagine any one in any con- 



I have advertised in almost every ditio.n struggling harder nor making- 

 photographic journal in the United a greater sacrifice to get an anastigmat 

 States for clear, sharp photographs than I did for my first. Perhaps the 

 that shall mean something, and I have result of the struggle and the deter- 

 been deluged with a mass of extreme- mination are as valuable as the finer 

 ly ordinary material evidently the work piece of glass. 



of defective lenses. Most subjects that 



are worth anything are moving. Mo- In urging the purchase of a better 

 tionless rocks and hills have no great lens, I would make just one exception, 

 popular interest. If a house is sur- If the camerist cannot afford the luxury, 

 rounded by trees the branches and the and will not use the lens to produce 

 leaves are in motion. I do not get pecuniary results, he should not buy it. 

 photographs that are good enough for To "scrimp" one's family for the pur- 

 publication from any except experienc- pose of furthering one's personal en- 

 ed workers who have good lenses. You joyment and gratification is a sin. But 

 may say that an experienced worker I am not speaking to such persons, 

 can do good work with a cheap lens. I am addressing either the one who 

 There are a few cases in which this can afford the luxury, or the one who 

 is done, but taking matters as I find really needs the lens to increase his 

 them, poor Avork goes with the cheap ability to earn money, and so increase 

 lens as commonly as dirt goes with not only his own happiness but that 

 poverty. of his family. As I now look back on 



I am trying to improve nature pho- my own years of struggle with a rectili- 

 tography but I have become convinced near, I realize that that was an unin- 

 that I cannot do it without urging tentional sacrifice of my family. My 

 every naturalist to get a high-grade camera never became a bread winner 

 lens. I know it from my own experi- till it had a first-class lens. I am not 

 ence and I know it from the work of cruel in urging discontent with medio- 

 hundreds of others whose productions ere tools, and I firmly believe that the 

 come to my desk. I am trying to help rectilinear is mediocre. I shall prob- 

 the amateur to do better work, but if ably never be able to afford what now 

 he has not zeal enough to make every seems to be a "luxury," a camera that 

 possible sacrifice to get at least a small will not be recjuired nor need to in- 

 high-grade lens then he is pretty nearly crease my income, but I do hope to 

 a hopeless case. Theoretically good have for many years enough ability and 

 work can be done with a cheap lens, energy back of an anastigmat to make 

 but practically it is not done to any it pay a profit and thus to help in the 

 great extent. Theoretically one could necessary bread winning. 

 be very, very poor, to revert to a figure 



alreadv used, yet use plenty of water Tr , r ■ 



, , , J , ' . J .. ,, . If we, as teachers, can fix in our 



and keep clean, but practically that is -, ,l t lit. 1. fl a u u-<. 



1 T7 1 r-i., pupils the health habit, the study habit 



not true. Extreme poverty and filth j ,1 1 , .•.. 1 • 



,, • 1 1 t -j. ■ and the work habit, we have given 



are generally mingled. I presume it is ,, ., , , .«. & .« . 



, & , J .* .° , ', £.,,, , them the key to every good thing that 



not poverty that makes the filth, but ,., , ,, rm. . tt n j 



i-t, 4. a' *. a 1 xu hfe holds. — Elbert Hubbard. 



that dirt and poverty are due to the 



same cause. I note always, as in your 



case, that whenever one does good Increased means and increased leis- 



work with a poor lens the determina- ure are the two civilizers of man. — Ben 



tion is to get a good lens and do bet- Johnson. 



