The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, September 20, 1896, Page 23

A SIMPLE INDOOR POSE—With classic background and artificial effects of light and shade. ‘When the first photograph of the human figure was made by the famous Professor Draper he had to give his plate nearly an hour's exposure. At the time this was considered marvelously quick and the . way he posed his sitter was not looked upon as of any importance, although the professor found it a most difhcult matter. Since that time great improvements have been made in the manipulation of the photographic plate. The time of exposure has been cat down to the fraction of a sec- ond, and developers have been so per- fected that almost any kind of an exposure can be made to yield good results. That is from the scientific point of view. An under-exposed plate can be intensified so asto be brilliant, and an over-exposed plate can be handled so as to produce the result of being properly timed, The modus operandi has been so simplified that an bour’s instruction is enough to enable a person of common-sense to make good, sharp negatives. But the work of posing the fizure, so ‘as to produce an aruistic re- sult, remains as difficult as ever. It is true that the commercial pho- tographers have, by certain arrangements of backgrounds and skylights, so simpli- fied their work that it is only a few mo- ments’ work to pose their sitter and get the negative, but they do not make pic- tures that would be satisfactory to an artist. In fact, the average so-called “studio” photograph is simply atrocious and full of errors of light and shade. The very best galleries in the country will turn out pictures of people with the face show- ing white aganst a cloudless sky. This is a condition that can be seldom seen 1n na- ture. An easy way to test It 1s to hold a white card against the sky and see how black it looks. Of course, if the face was against a dark sky and the sun struck one side of it, that side would look lighter than the sky, but the contrast would be violent and unpleasant, and not at all as the studio pictures look. The face of the sitter, under these conditions, would also be likely to have a ‘“screwed-up” ex- pression, on account of the sun striking the eyes. Now it is all very well and proper from a business standpoint for the commercial photographer to do this. His sitters are generally in a hurry, and prices are so low as a general thing that he can waste no time experimenting with art. He must get the picture eut and get his money for it or his business will fail. And as long as the people who get the pictures are pleased, who shall complain? But the amateur photographer should be an artist and endeavor to produce something better than anybody has done before. This isno more expensive than to follow in the old conventional rut, as the materials cost no more, but of course it takes more time FIGURE COMPOSITION and study. There is where the pleasure comes in, however. There are two ways of posing the human figure to make photographs of it—indoors and out of doors. Both are proper and artistic, but it is not artistic to make a picture of a person 1ndoors with a back- ground painted to produce the effect of an out of doors scene. That is the old con- ventional way and the result will be in accordance. Ii you want to make a picture of a per- son out of doors, pose that person out of doors and the result will be true to nature at any rate. If you feel that a background will be a handy thing for indoor use let 1t represent some interior, with pleasing architectural designs, or a flat' conven- tional surtace. Possibly a circle painted on it will come in handy at certain times. But no result can be expected to come from artificial paraphernalia that will equat pature. How much more pleasing’ pictures are when taken out of doors than those made indoors, to say nothing of the fact that they will be all different. Look over the samples of any commercial photographer and observe the tiresome repetition of background running through the work. There will be a hundred different girls sitting on the same log or standing by the same gate or in front of the same land- scape, that is most likely ont of perspec- tive. The commercial photographer can- not help this and cannot be blamed, but _the amateur can. If youintend to make a picture of a friend pose him in his own home or out beneath the sky. It is not the purpose in this article to consider the posing ot the figure with a view to making portraits—that wiil be considered at another time—but to con- sider it from an artistic standpoint. That is (0 make it harmonize with its surround- ings and present a pleasing appearance. As was awelt upon in previous articles the idea 1s to §ll the space and make the light and snade balancs. This must be done whether the picture is taken indoors or out of doors. The two accompanying drawings will give an idea of what is meant. One shows a natural scene out of doors and the other an artificial effect in doors, but arranged so as to be true to nature as far as light ana shade is con- cerned. The first thing todo when posing a figure out of doors is to select the landscape background. To begin with, let this be simple, both in form and light and shade, and if the idea is to show the figure do not have any objects in it that will take away from the figure. Pose the figure in such position that the lines will balance with the lines of the background. Thatis, do not let the line”formed by the branch of a tree run parallel to one of the lines that form the contour of the figure. Getas much variety in the lines as possible. It 13 best to keep the part of the picture near the figure rather slmpl’ and let the part above it be as broken as desired. This will give the required variety. The fore- ground should be more broken or more simple than the sky. A figure standing in a tangle of weeds and a simple sky will look well, as will also a simple foreground and a sky broken by branches or rolling clouds. If a figure is posed in a forest where there are weeds in the foreeround, let the upper part of the picture be dark and simple, The style of background should be selected to suit the costume. If the dress-skirt is plain, get a broken background, and if it is elaborate and cov- ered with trimming, let the background be plain and simple. Rocks sometimes answer very well, but they are hard to handle because they are likely to produce stronger effects of light and shade than the figure. See that the figure looks natural and that the background is pleas- ing, and the result will be surely satis- factory in meny ways that will become apvparent the more the picture is studied.. The indoor composition is as simple a pose as one could desire. It offers plenty of opportunity for artistic draping and almost any number ot changes of light and shade. Tne background is so simple that almost anybody can paint it. By learning to do this the amateur can easily have a large number of changes in indoor work. For real artistic’worg the back- ground might be used for only one picture and then changed to suit the next one. In the accompanying drawing the figure is made to fill the space, as the background is of very little importance. The circie on the flat tone gives variety, The lines of this fizure are simple in the extreme, but they suit the background and the style of costume. Almost any fig- ure will look well posed against a back- ground like this one, but the idea isto . AN ARTISTIC OUTDOOR FIGURE—Taken in bright sunlight without any arrangement whatever. make the figure mean something. A fig- ure in ordinary street costume would look a little out ‘of place here, although the effect might e pleasing to the eye, There is nothing like making things Larmonize 2nd the best way to do this is to mak® them natural. favorite corner at home or in a pretty bit of woods and the result will be a picture Pose a person in his ‘WiLL SPARKS. DOGS IN WAR Jraining Ganine Pets for ilitary Service Since the Franco-Prussian war so many innovations bave been introduced and have failed in the test of actnal experience in matters pertaining to war service that we must regard it as practically a settled matter when a nation like the Germans maintains on a lerge scalean establish- ment for no other purpose than to train dogs for war. But anexperience of nearly twenty years seems to have convinced them, and there is no doubt but the next war Germany is engaged in she will em- ploy on a large scale the dogs trained for the service of security and information. ‘The war dog will be particularly useful in carrying reports to advanced patrols or outposts and pickets, and also in assisting outposts and in hunting up missing men. it bas beer: found that poodles, shepherd dogs and bird dogs are the most suitable for military training, but less atten- tion is paid to the breed of the dog than to the purity of the breed and the quallties necessary. These quali- ties are perfect health, a strong body with broad chest, sinewy legs, acute ear and nose, docility, watchfulness and gentle- ness. Of the three kinds named, poodies are found the most docile, and are there- fore used for the purpose of instructing young trainers in training young dogs. But as they grow old they lose interest in their werk and are then found lacking. The shepherd dog is, in common with the poodle, exceedingly intelligent, has the | ability to withstand climatic chnnges‘] and were it not for the element of affec- | tion which is lacking be would be:the most valuable of all breeds. The bird dogs combine the good qualities of botn the foregoing breeds, and are moreover distingnished by a high sense of duty and attachment, The more that they become conscious that other things are required of them, the more do they lose their in. clination for hunting. The course a war dog goes through is certainly interesting, and it is surprising to know that like their human com- panions-in-arms they are required to at- tain certain degrees of proficiency in their training before being advanced from one grade to another. As each degree is attained a certificate is issued, and when all is through another, which is practi- cally & diploma, is issued, in which is stated the breed, the peaigree, the attain- ments, age and name and full aescription of the ammal, and the organization to which the dog is assigned. Tie require- ments in training are to beobedient to certain calls and signals, to carry mes- sages with certainty, to maintain com- monication between different posts and sentinels, to be watchful and bring notice to sentinels of the approsch of strangers, and to bunt up missing men, though on this last point but little truining is neces- sary, © ‘The training 1s effécted by one of two methods, depending on the nature and character of the dog. The first is the forcible method, in which a dog is kept isolated to insture a complete subordina- tion of his will to his trainer, while the second is the miid method, in which par- ticular stress is laid on the dog’s intéHi- gence by gentle and persuasive means. The training is divided into tbree parts, (1) guiding by the line or thong; (2) de- velopment of watchfulness; (3) the going and returning. In order to be more easily understood by the dog, each part is sub- divided into preparatory parts or stages, and ag the further the work progresses the greater’ is the development of the dog’s intelligence, and therefore the easier the training, it is necessary to pass from one stage to another gradually and never demand from the animal more than is in- telligible to him. When the dog compre- hends what is expected of him, the next step is to fix what is learned by a constant practice. According to the difficulty of the exercise is the amount of time required. The fewer punishments meted out the bet- ter it speaks for both dog and trainer, and rewards also are given out sparingly that the dog shall not be led to expect any- thing more than kind words on doing duty properly. In punishing, the trainer is required to be absolutely certain that it is a case of downright disobedience on the part of the dog before inflicting it, which is done by either a scolding or a beating with a stick. While kind words and gentleness are used from birth, yet the proper training doee¢ not commence be- fore the dog is at least six months old. The exercise under the first part—lead- ing with the leash—requires the dog, who is fastened by a leash or strap, to walk on the leit-hand side of the trainer without the latter baving to hola theline taut in his band. The leash is a calfskin strap, a half inch wide, with the upper end ar- ranged for slinging, and having a buckle, Itis about three feet long, and is termi- nated in its lower end with a strong snap. Instruction in this exercise is commenced very early. The dog is not aliowed to leave barracks except fastened by the leash. At first the animal will want to run forward or .stand fast, but a pull on the line ard petting him and talking will soon make him understand what is ex- pected. Should he stretch the line or pull it, a thin ewitch is used, and the dog must understand that be must pay attention to the trainer 4nd to'ndthing eise. 'Soon the dog will' walk alongside histrainer, who has hold of the upper end of the leash, and will walk easily, so that the strap will hang loosely.. After this step isaccom- plished then comes the second or higher one of developing his watchfulness. ' This quality. is inborn'in' the dég,‘and but needs training to dévelop it 1n the right direction. It commences indoors. The trainer with the dog is in a Yoom, the sur- roundings of which ' are kept-as quiet as possible. An assistant trainer is then to knock at the door. The dog’s attention is called to the noise and he is incited to growl by the word “look out,” and if the dog should bark, this at first is not pre- vented. Then as he grows larger, stronger and gains in self-confidence and courage, he is tu'ken at night, at which time his hearing and alertness are more acute, to some isolated point, and after a little while the assistant steals up on the wind- ward side, but at first not too quietly. If the dog does not bark, he is incited to by the trainer. Care, however, is taken that he does not attack the assistant, as biting dogs ate not fit for military service, and, at the same time, in this first training none must act as assistant whom the dog knows. After he has become accustomed to giving notice of theapproach of any one he is then required to do it by a low growl instead of barking, and then the more es- sential parts are taught him successively, as when attached to & sentinel to give no- tice of the approach of strangers, and when tied up to allow uo stranger to come near. Then comes the last and most valuable part of the training—the “going and re- turning.” By thisis understood that when led eway from his trainer by an assistant he can be sent back to the former, or when taken back or away by the trainer he can “WHO GOES THERE?”—THE MAN AND THE DOG ON PICKET DUTY. mile, and all points of the roud, both going and returning, should be known to the dog. After atime when sent back the dog is allowed to select bis own route. In retrieving only very light articles are used at first, as handkerchiefs, gloves, etc. Such moments as the dog shows un inclination for this kind of work are taken advantage of by the trainer. The next step forward is with the as- sistance of the assistant. The latter holds the article in the hand, open, and walks away. After a time the trainer sends the dog after him by the call “for- ward,” and the dog, running to the as- sistant, takes the arucle irom the open hand and brings it to the trainer. Then the exercises are continued by the trainer and dog remaining standing; the assistant advances, or the latter remains standing and the former advances, until itis im- material to the dog whether he run for- ward or back in order to fetch the article Then the inittals and terminal points of the course are seiected so that they cannot be seen from each other,and the dog taugh t to retrieve over it. ‘When the degree of proficiency neces- sary to go and reiurn properly is reached the finishing touches of the dog’s educa- tion are taken up. He is taught to swim,' to cross streams by command, to carry small articles longer distances, then 1o do the same work in the dark and to hunt missing men. He is accustomed to the sound of firearms and cannon and taught to avoid ever going in front of the latter. He is then required to do all his work by command of some other than his trainer, the latter ‘being out of sight and sound, and finally, as an incentive to good trainers, competitions are neld, be sent to the assistant and then return to the trainer. During this training he is taught to run back and retrieve lost articles, to use the pouch, etc. The dis- tances at first do mot exceed a third of & under the supervision of officers of high rank, and silver and gold med- als are given to those attaining the greatest results with their dogs. Then comes the practical part of all this train- ing. A pouch made of leather, five inches long by two deep and wide, is fastened to the collar, andin it are placed the mes- sages. These are always placed in and taken out in frontof the dog, so that he may see the action. He is then required to carry his pouch over cousiderable dis- tances, varying from @ haii mile to sev- eral milesas he grows stronger. When all is done satisfactorily he receives his diploma as an educated dog, a so-cailed dog Bachelor of Arts. This diploma states his name, breed, amount of attain- tients and the battalion he belongs to. Then on his collar is a metal plate on which is engraved his company and bat- talion, and he becomes thenceforth petof the company, but withal an edu- cated soldier, capable of doing a great deal more of good to his friends or harm to the enemy than many of his two- legged comrades. His food consists then of the same food as is fed the soldiers, together with dog cakes. He has a hospi- tal of his own in case of any sickness, and it can be easily understood that men would, next to their colors and officers, fight for their dogs and dogs’ rights rather than for other people. < ‘W. R. Hamrurox, TU. 8, KEEP MANY CATS. ATS are getting to be 2 very serious problem with the men who conduct the big warehouses on the business streets near the water front, and the person who will invent some efficacious method of driving them out of a building and keep- ing them out will not only be welcomed with open arms, but will be amply remu- nerated for his discovery. 3 These figures may seem exaggerated, but itisafact that it costs each warehouse from §50 to $100 a month to repair the dam- age to goods and boilding done by the seems to be rather on the increase than otherwise. Thus far cats have been found to be the best means of keeping down the rat crop, and droves of ielines are kept in every estaplishment. During the day, when the rodents are lying quiet in their retreats, the cats are not particularly noticeable, but after nightfall, when the warehousemen have gone home and darkness reigns in the barn-like structures, fiery eyes péer from every corner, and gaze eagerly and in- tently at places whence their owners know the prey will come. Aside from their natural instincts to kill rats the cats have anotherreason for hunt- ing assiduously, and that is hunger. Warehousemen want felines that will slaughter steadily and persistently, and bave no room for lazy, well-fed cats, so their rat-destroying animals are never fed, but must catch their enemies or starve., At the Eagle warehouse, 17 and 19 Davis street, twenty rat-killers are constantly employed weeding out the less cautious of the pests, and these felines destroy an average of fifty rats per day and work seven daysin the week. The averageof a full-grown and ambitious cat is three rats per day, and when they reach that degree of efficiency they acquire a distinct com- mercial value, and are carefully protected by their owners. A fewdays ago & member of the Eagle warehouse firm went to look at 500 bales of twine that had beef placed ina position where it supposed they would be safe from rats, and found to his chagrin that almost every bale had been gnawed until it was useless. As the loss falis on the warehouse he was more than ever angry at the whole rat tribe, and forthwith or- dered that an increased supply of the most ferocions cats procurable be purchased. His firm figures its loss from rats $75 per rodents, and the number of the pests|month the year round. This City is blessed with the most com- plete kindergarten system in the United States. This is a rather bold statement, but nevertheless it is borne out to a certain ex- tent by the following interesting para- graph which appeared a few days ago in the columns of tue Star, a leading weekly published in one of the great Eastern cities: * One of the highest compliments to the value of the kindergartens comes from San Francisco. In that City the worst parts have many kindergartens. Not less than 20,000 children in the City of 300,000 have passed from kindergartens to the higher public schools, and it is said to be an almost unbeard of thing for & child who has been two years in a kindergarfen to be guilty of a crime, If this is true let other citics imitate the City of the Goiden Gate. Indeed, the kindergarten system of San Francisco is particularly well organized, and the results of it are especially gratifying. The schoolrooms are usually in some conveniently situated tenement in the very midst of*a neighborhood where poverty, squalor and children abound, for the movement in this City is primarily for the lifting up of the chil- dren of the poor. The first thing thatim- presses one who chances to visit a district in which a kindergarten is established is the unusual neatness of the younger chil- dren. This impression is deepened and broad- ened as the roomful of boys ard girls is viewed. It is an inspiring picture—not pretty, for the clothes of these little oness are designed more for use than ornament, but it is inspiring in the sense that it gives hope forthe future. A happier 1ot no one would wish to see. They seem to be merely playing—making butterflies and other beautiful things—but all the time the sweet lessons of right and duty are being taught them. These are not pure white minds, to be taken by preceptors and molded. Unfortunately many of these little tab- lets have already been blurred and soiled by familiarity with vice irom the very first gleam of consciousness. The teacher’s task is therefore doubly difficult, for the tares must be uprooted in order to make room for the lilies. In a recent publication issued by the Golden Gate Kindergarten Association Miss Agnes Manning, a member of the association, writes: ‘I wish to explain why I am so much in favor of kindergar- tens. My school isin & crowded neighbor- hood. I have many chiidren from tene- ment-houses and from the narrow streets south of Market street. Before the days of the kindergarten these children as soon as they could crawl spent their waking lives on the sidewalk. *“‘From the age of 2 to 6 years they pur- sued the education of the street. The con- sequence was that at 6 they came to us with a fund of information of the worst description and a vocabulary that would excite the envy of the Barbary Coast. The kindergartens have changed all this. The children of tenement-houses and narrow sireets still come in tens, fifties and hun- dreds to begin life in a new school at the beginning of each term. I hea%*4wo more, however, the wild phrases of the tender- loin or the rude drivers’ oaths. The little ones are clean, self-respecting, eager for knowledge. “They neither know how to read or write. They have been taught to see, to observe, to tell about what they have seen and heard. They have been taught to respect older people, to be honest, to tell the truth. It is a rare thing now tofinda child that does not know it is wrong to TRAINNG TOTS Saving the?oor Children From the Street steal. Ifyou meet such a one you may know it has never been in a kindergarten. I think you will now understand why I am so strongly in favor of kindergartens.” In the same line is the opinion of Ohief of Police Crowley, who said : “I can cheerfully bear witness to the good accomplished by the establishment of the free kindergartens in this Oity. My opinion is based on reports that I have received from police officers.” That hundreds of citizens hold similar views is proved by the fact that the many kindergartens of this City are kept open at a yearly expense of $30,000, all of this being derived from private subscriptions, as the kindergartens have not been en- grafted on the public-school system as they should and ultimately will be. The Golden Gate Kindergarten Associ- ation has made a thorough investigation of the careers of the first 9000 boys and girls who passed through the kindergar- tens and were received by the schools. The police records of this and neighbor- ing communities were searched and but one of the kindergarten children was found who had ever been arrested. That one was a half-witted boy, who was subse- quently committed to the asylum for feeble-minded children instead of being sent to prison, so be can hardly be counted against the kindergarten. The total number of children trained up to the present date is 24,000, and good re- ports are heard from all. Some of the first graduates of the first kindergartens established on Barbary Coast, the worst part of the City, have grown to manhood and womanhood and hold respectable po- sitions in the community. One is a prac- ticing attorney of acknowledged worth and ability. These children of the poor are, generally speaking, bright enough. ‘What they need is a helping hand in the road to correct thinking and correct liv- ing. This helping hand the kindergarten extends. Professor Joseph O'Connor, principal of the Horace Mann Grammar School, says that he greatly favors the kindergarten system for the children of the well todo as well as for the poor. Indeed he cannot see why a condition of prosperity should deprive any child of the great advantage of such training. Accordingly he has been instrumental in engraiting some of Froebel’s methods upon the work of the primary grades of the public schools. All the public school principais and teachers ugree that the kindergartens are a blessing to the community. It is a well-known fact that from a single neglected little girl in New York there has come during the past fifty years an army of 12,000 criminals and paupers, sn- tailinz an expense of nundreds of thou- sands of dollars to the taxvayers of that State. Considering this fact, who can es- timate the expense saved to California and to San Francisco from training into ways of virtue and well-doing 24,000 chil- dren gathered in localities which produce a large share of our crimnal population, Without doubt kindergartens are cheaper than prisons and ‘more eftective than re form schools. Another phase of this work is that the homes of these children are frequently bettered by the good influence of the youngest tots in the household. A clean baby is a splendid object lesson, and the feeling of pride rearoused in the mother’s heart has often been known to extend to other members of the fam ily eircle, and 1n some cases actual revolutions for the better have taken place, involving not only the older children but the pars ents as well,