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“With or Without?” A Visit to a Spirit Photographer, 1869
So I went the other day to the photographer.
He lives in Fulton Street. I would give you his name and address, only I am afraid he might not like it as he is a very high artist—keeps at the top of the building. [editor’s note– 19th century photography studios were located on the top floors of their buildings so they could have skylights. ]
A young lady presided over a show case in the reception room; she smiled on me sweetly, and asked me what I wished. I couldn’t tell her all I wished at that moment, but mentioned that I wanted to have my lineaments transferred to paper by the subtle and Ingenious process of photography.
Whereupon she told me to walk up stairs. Which I did.
I was received by the artist, who smelt like a drug store.
Told him I wanted a picture.
Says he “Will you have it “with” or “without?”
“Couldn’t you take it “within,” says I.
“Excuse me” said he, “I mean “with” or without “spirits?”
“I don’t mind a little spirits,” said I, wishing to be sociable.
“What spirit would you like?” says he.
“Well I generally take Bourbon, but am not particular.”
“Pardon me, you misapprehend, I mean disembodied spirits; the shade of a departed relative cast upon the picture in a benign attitude.”
“Oh, l see now,” said I. “You are a spirit photographist.”
“Well you see the thing became the rage and we had to do it as well as other establishments. All in the spirit line now. But since we have gone into it we have developed the art very much, and produce spirits of a superior tone and finish, unequalled by any other establishment.”
“What kind of spirits do you keep?” said I.
“All kinds,” said he; “anything from a grandmother to an infant, aunts, cousins, distant friends, in any style. Our grandmothers give the utmost satisfaction, while our babes, done in the cherubic pattern, excite universal admiration.”
“What kind of spirits are most in demand?” said I, feeling interested.
“Maternal relatives are most in requisition, then children. Aunts are sometimes called for, and we do a few cousins. Male spirits are not much in demand. Sometimes a father is wanted, and we have had widows who desired the shade of a departed husband, and we once did a brother,”
“Are not the spirits of departed wives invoked by disconsolate widowers?”
“We have never had a customer of that kind yet.”
”What kind of an attendant spirit do you think would become me in a photograph?”
“Something light and cheerful I should recommend. How would you like a beautiful young lady in white-a youthful idol-a remembrance of days gone by-quite a poetical conception-angelic spirit-watching fondly over you, &c.?”
That would be nice, but I am afraid Mrs. O’Lanus might make a row about it, and Sedilla Ann, if she got the picture, might set me down as a gay deceiver, and the old folks think l wasn’t a safe person to have around. I’d rather have that spirit in a separate picture.”
“Well then, try something venerable, a grandmother. Had a grandmother, I presume?”
“l have heard so.”
“You don’t recollect the old lady, well, all the better, the likeness will give the better satisfaction. People who have too distinct a recollection of the departed are sometimes hard to please. Had a gentleman here yesterday who wanted to be taken with his wife’s aunt. He tried our whole assortment of spirits without suiting him. Asked him what peculiarity in his wife’s aunt he missed. He said she always wore spectacles, and none of our spirits were so attired. Assured him that spirits in the other sphere didn’t need spectacles and never wore them. But he insisted that his wife’s aunt did, that she could not see a hay-stack at three paces without them.”
“Does it cost any more,” said I, “to be taken with a spirit?”
“Yes,” said he, spirits are hard to take, have to use expensive preparations on the plate, and pay an artist to touch them up. Have to charge twice as much as plain photographs.”
I concluded to be taken without.
–Unidentified author, “Cory O’Lanus’ Epistle,” The Brooklyn Eagle, May 15, 1869, p. 2.
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(R) Unidentified Photographer: Man with Whispering Spirits. Albumen cabinet card, circa 1885
- (L) Modern reconstruction of same image without spirits. (Digital Exorcism by Wm. B. Becker)
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