go to HOME

 THE DAGUERREOTYPE: AN ARCHIVE OF SOURCE TEXTS, GRAPHICS, AND EPHEMERA


  The research archive of Gary W. Ewer regarding the history of the daguerreotype

The daily news is fairly quiet, so I'm sending these two items from my "non- dated" files. Both of these items appeared in "The Whig Almanac" (New York), an annual publication. - - - - - - - - - - The first is an ad from the back of "The Whig Almanac for 1853": THOUGHTS OVER A SERIES OF FAMILY PORTRAITS. It cannot be idolatry To worship where we love, To shrine those in the memory Whom God hath called above; Or if it be, such venial sin Is sure to be forgiven, For loving one another Brings us always nearer heaven. The mother who hath laid her child In tears beneath the sod, And watched its spotless spirit fade Into the smile of God, May hold the idol in her soul While memory's power shall last, And worship to her latest hour The glory that hath passed. The child, whose tender hand hath smoothed A dying parent's brow, May set the image in the heart And aye before it bow; For mortal parents are but types And when by death they fall, They gently draw our souls to HIM, The parent of us all. But memory in the wreck of years Will often fade away-- For in the sunniest climes of earth 'Tis never always day; Then how the heart bereaved will cling To all that tells of one Who loved and was beloved, whose race Too soon on earth was run. Thanks to the wondrous powers of Art In these well-favored days; Death cannot rob the soul of all That glads our earthly ways; In nature's grand old temple stands A priest, before unknown, And wields, as with a spirit's power, The pencil of the sun. And as full-armed and perfect men (So ancient fables tell) Sprung from the soil full thickly where The teeth of dragons fell, So from this pencil's magic touch Comes forth the human form, So like the life it seems to speak, And beat with pulses warm. Death soon or late must come to all, There's danger in delay; The shadow will endure for time, The substance pass away; Secure at once, ye loving ones, Those treasures of the heart That ever keep the memory true To those who must depart. The Daguerreotype Gallery of Mr. Root, No. 363 BROADWAY, New York, is one of the most extensive and splendid in the world, and open day and evening free to all. His pictures are as near perfection as it is possible yet to come, and have taken TWELVE PREMIUMS, including the Gold Medal of 1851. His Crayons are most exquisite; and his Crystalotypes--a new article, are equally fine. The Daguerreotype portrait--the most appropriate gift from one friend or relative to another--should be secured by every person visiting or living in New York. Root's is at the center of Broadway and Franklin Street, six blocks above the Park. Call and see his great collection of remarkable portraits. * * * * * * * This short anecdote appeared in "The Whig Almanac for 1855": "Mother, can't I go and have my Daguerreotype taken?" "No, my child; I guess it isn't worth while." "Well, then, you might let me have a tooth pulled; I never go anywhere." (with thanks to Joe Bauman for sending these contributions!) -------------------------------------------------------------- 05-07-99

Return to: DagNews