NOVELIST AND CAMERA.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8836, 12 June 1907, Page 4

NOVELIST AND CAMERA.

Recently Miss Marie Corelli encountered the professional photographer at Stratford-on-Avon, and being defeated by him in her efforts to escape being snapshotted, she made a friend of him, and pleaded that he would not publish the photograph. She visited the church just before evensong to lay her floral tribute upon the poet’s grave, and having done this she leaned over the rail to read the inscriptions. Two photographers connected with press agencies had been taking pictures in the chancel, and were just packing up their apparatus. As soon as they saw the popular novelist they seized their snap-shot cameras, crept out behind her, and stationed themselves in the churchyard path. Miss Corelli, who has been dodging the camera-fiend for years, at once scented danger, and turned sharp round to the right, while a gentleman friend stood between her and the cameras. The manoeuvre was successful, and the lady walked quickly round the church till she met the sexton. She enlisted him in her service, and he walked before her, while the gentleman guarded the right flank. At last one of them sprang out from behind a buttress right in front of her, and secured a picture before she had time to turn away her face. Miss Corelli was equal to the occasion, and seeing she was beaten, she walked up to her enemy and, with a winning smile, said, "I ask you, as a gentleman, to promise me that you will not publish that photograph." The look of elation vanished from the photographer's face, and he granted the lady's request. Miss Corelli'shook him by the hand; ho raised his hat and they parted. Meanwhile the other artist had been focussing his camera on this little scene. He was caught in the I act, however, and a similar promise was extracted from him. j "How we are safe," remarked I Mies Corelil to her companion, and 1

they strolled out of the churchyard, leaving the two photographers to struggle with their consciences and their cameras.