On this day (February 17) in the year 1858, the following anecdote appeared in "St. Catharines Journal" (Ontario, Canada) pg. 1: - - - - - - - - - - "A Warranted Portait.--'I want my portrait taken,' said a young man from the country to a daguereotypist. 'Very well, sir; just take a seat here.' 'You warrant a resemblance?' 'Certainly, for many years; and even when old age overtakes you, there will be some traces of your features left.' 'But suppose I catch the small-pox, how can you warrant a durable likenesss?' 'Just bring it back,' said the artist, smiling, 'and I'll punch a few holes in it." (With thanks to Dennis Gannon for today's text.) -------------------------------------------------------------- 02-17-98