THE CAMERA CRAZE

Evening Star, Issue 12763, 16 March 1906, Page 7

THE CAMERA CRAZE

A writer in the London ‘Daily Telegraph’ condemns the lengths to which tire “unworthy craze” of photographing everybody and everything on any and every possible occasion is being carried out. “Who has ever travelled abroad,” he asks, “ withou- set ing_ camera-armed globe-trotters of everv nationality clicking away with their infernal machines amid the most solemn and sacred surroundings?” He gives a striking experience in illustration of his remark. In Japan it is strictly forbidden to photograph the Emperor when he appears in public. Yet, on the occasions of the progress of His Majesty to the opening of the Japanese Parliament, after the outbreak of the late war, over a score of American, German, and English camera fiends planted themselves along the route of the royal procession, and in defiance alike cf law and good taste did their best to obtain photographs of what the Japanese regard, as the sacred person of their Emperor. It speaks something for the forbearance and politeness of the” Japanese that this outrage was allowed to be committed without penalty. Flashlight photographs are especially obnoxious to the indignant writer, who relates liow a man who burned himself when “ taking ” President Roosevelt was kicked downstairs by a policeman, his machine being thrown after him, “Here at home,” ho adds, “it is almost impossible to attend a public dinner without running the risk of being halfblinded by a similar contrivance operated

by :.somo hardened rascal to gratify the a few nbbodies, who wish to possess a photograph showing'them'sitting at irtcat with The eminent man who may happen to be in the chair.”