. . .All this time, Gilbert Fletcher has been left bending of an old- fashioned, somewhat faded daguerreotype. Two girl-faces nestled closely together; the elder had long, dropping curls, and Miriam's eyes and mouth--the other was a chubby, little sister, long years since in Paradise. That child-face of Miriam was very sweet, and Gilbert studied it intently. He did not hear Miriam's question; and she went and looked over his shoulder. "That old thing!" said she, half-sadly, "it does not look a bit like me now. That was taken 'when I was nearer heaven in the days of long ago.'" "To me it looks very much like you," replied Gilbert, in a low tone. "I wish that you would give it to me, Miriam--I should like to take it away with me." "I would not give it to you for the world," said Miriam, in the same tone. "When do you go?". . . These are a few line from the short story "A Daguerreotype in Battle," by Ella Rodman from the 1863 September issue of Peterson's Magazine (Philadelphia). To my knowledge, this story has never been referenced in any text on photohistory. I have the full text available and will be happy to send it to anyone who asks. Simply respond to this note with a message to the effect: "send full text" and I'll be happy to forward it to you as an e-mail note. I can also send it MIME if you have the capabilities and wish to receive it that way; let me know your preference. ---------------------------------- more --- I also have for today an advertisement by Southworth and Hawes. It came to me clipped and I am unable to offer the source or the date of the advertisement. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A R T I S T S' D A G U E R R E O T Y P E R O O M S, No. 5 1/2 Tremont Row, Boston. In extending a cordial invitation to all who chance to peruse these page, to visit our exhibition gallery, it is proper to state in a plain and comprehensive manner what we would have visitors expect, especially those who are judges of pictures. We aim in our profession to please Artists, and those whose taste for the fine arts has been cultivated and refined. Our patrons and customers have uniformly been of this class; and as we have aimed to do superior work, our services have commanded much higher prices than others in the same business are able to obtain. In every possible application of the Daguerreotype, we have led the way beyond all competition, until the best judges of art in the country pronounce some of our work superior to any pictures in any of the renowned European Galleries. This will seem extravagant to all who are strangers to us; and yet we ask all Artists to expect to see something superior to what they have ever seen at all, and we will risk their being disappointed. As to the different styles of work, they are all our own entirely--such as Crayon, (so called,) Illuminated Clouds, &c., and Ornamented Border. Some of these are claimed as Patented; but we say that we practiced them for years before any one else, and long since gave them to the public; and a patent on either Crayon or Bordered Daguerreotype, or on taking several persons or objects on the same plate, at different times, so as to have the picture seem as though made at once, without any dividing mark, cannot be sustained, ought not, and shall not be, wherever we can show our work; for we have it in such form as to constitute testimony convincing to any one who may be interested. At the late Fair in Boston, we received five highest premiums for best specimens exhibited, viz.: "Gold Medal for Stereoscope;" "Silver Medal for best Daguerreotypes;" "Silver Medal for best Daguerreotype Plates;" "Silver Medal for best Crayon," and "Diploma for best Daguerreotype Frames." T H E S T E R E O S C O P E Is a wonder in itself, and in its design and use we have reached the very climax of perfection, having effected an arrangement which renders it a complete gallery of life-size tableaux, which must be seen to be realized or appreciated. We promise a rich treat to all who visit us. SOUTHWORTH & HAWES. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - If you haven't recently been to the on-line exhibition for "Secrets of the Dark Chamber," you are missing a great resource. I especially appreciate the many 19th century texts they have made available. Direct your web browser to: http://www.nmaa.si.edu/secrets/secretshtml/secrets.html ----------------------------------------------------------------- sep1-95