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to represent the thorn-crowned Christ, as well as in numberless other examples of his productions which have won for him fame among the members of his profession, both in and out of his own State.

Mr. Minns has an interesting personality, as most will discover who come in contact with him. Not only has he distinctive and often original views of his art, but these he manages boldly to throw into his pictures, and frequently in spite of the opposition of his patrons, most of whom, however, in the end come round to and accept his ideas. Mr. Minns waxes eloquent over the artistic possibilities of his instrument. On this subject he says: "All of the camera's products are, technically speaking, photographs: when directed toward

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"And all night long his face before her lived,
As when a painter, poring on a face,
Divinely through all hindrance finds the man
Behind it, and so paints him that his face,
The shape and color of a mind and life,
Lives for his children, ever at its best
And fullest; so the face before her lived
Dark-splendid, speaking in the silence full
Of noble things."

At the eccentricities of the camera in the hands of a sciolist the artist frequently scoffs. Applied to the human face, the product of the lens, he often admits, is frequently false in perspective, in drawing, and in tonality; then the retoucher and burnisher often add a mask that completes the disguise which has made the photographed face the ridicule of artists and of truth-lovers everywhere. Reproductions from paintings and from photographs compel us to see that a vast difference exists between what the eye sees and what the lens produces. If this is understood, Mr. Minns holds, it explains why it is so often said of a photograph, "I don't think it looks like me." The portrait, in truth, should be like the person in external form, true in perspective and drawing, subdued in detail, relegating unimportant things in features and dress as matters of subordinate consideration, while bringing into notice the one essential point of interest toward which the eye of the observer is drawn unconsciously, yet not to be diverted. Then, if the portrait be complete, there should be life portrayed, a responsive living thing, natural, unaffected - nothing put on for the moment-just a bit of

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ON THE LITTLE CUYAHOGA RIVER

was his final reply, "may be a map of a man; a portrait, however, is the man. The one is a sort of inventory, bill-ofparticulars effect, conveying no more of the character, force, or mind of the individual than a map does of a landscape."

Mr. Minns acknowledges his indebtedness to Tennyson's poetical portrait in "Elaine," one of the things that set me thinking."

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viewing the exhibits at the Lake Chautauqua Convention of the Photographers' Association of America, Professor Taft thus writes of the examples on the walls of Mr. Minns's work:

"A similar delicacy, coupled with greater certainty of style, is shown in the really remarkable work of Mr. Minns, of Akron, Ohio. . . . The head of an old man (one of the exhibits) illustrates his unerring characterization, but is perhaps less representative than the fair 'Beatrice, with its light background and great refinement of lighting. Any one of his eight or ten portraits would have served our purpose, for whatever his subject he makes it interesting and artistic as well, with a thrift of apparent

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E

A PHILIPPINE BLOCKHOUSE

MILIO AGUINALDO and his Cabinet

Ministers sent the Filipino Republic up in smoke and scattered Filipino independence to the four winds of heaven on the night of the 4th of February last, when, in direct or indirect obedience to orders, insurgent soldiers fired into the ranks of the American army of occupation. In a moment of misguided zeal Aguinaldo precipitated a conflict which transformed prosperous little villages and pueblos into smouldering ruins; a strife in which he sacrificed the lives of thousands of his own kinsmen,-poor, ignorant beings in whom he and his perfidious associates inculcated a fervid fanaticism which spurred them on in an unequal struggle that could but terminate as it has,-in utter, hopeless ruin.

While it was his privilege to abide in his erstwhile capital Aguinaldo might well have occupied his thoughts and lelsure moments in deep contemplation of the absolute desolation he has brought upon his people; he might have permitted his vision to wander over the once green and fertile fields which were laid waste through his folly. Indeed he might even now allow his imagination to depict the sombre panorama of his ruined "empire" of which it was his dream to be ruler, and then he might repent,- all too late.

It is by no means certain that Aguinaldo will find a safe haven even among his own people, for surely such implicit confidence as was placed in him by his followers will give way to hatred and a thirst for revenge when it is found that his promises and representations were

false. I recall one poor fanatic who came to realize Aguinaldo's perfidy only too late, when he lay dying upon the battlefield, powerless to impart his well-founded belief to others and thus save them from a fate similar to his own. The kind treatment given him by our surgeons and nurses opened his eyes to the truth and convinced him that it was not our intention to persecute his people, but to rescue them from misrule and tyranny, such as Aguinaldo and his associates would have inaugurated once they secured control. While his life was slowly ebbing away the dying insurgent kept on muttering in disconnected whispers that the Filipinos did not understand the Americans, and that Aguinaldo was "very malicious" to precipitate a war. It is to be regretted that he did not survive his wounds, so that he could have exposed Aguinaldo in his true guise of a traitor to his people in not seeking to avoid rather than to provoke an unnecessary war.

It is little short of remarkable what a tenacious hold Aguinaldo had upon the natives and with what obedience they carried out his instructions to prepare for a war with the Americans. In fact his followers regarded him with awe and looked upon him as a supernatural being, peculiarly favored by the gods of peace and war, and hence never lared to question his plans. Some time prior to the commencement of hostilities, accompanied by a friend I made a trip into the interior, being permitted to pass into the insurgent lines after satisfying Aguinaldo's soldiers that we were unarmed. In every

* It is hardly necessary to state that the views herein expressed by Mr. Haldin are not those which have been generally upheld in the SELF CULTURE MAGAZINE. That both sides of this perplexing question may be heard, and especially that our readers may have the advantage of learning the views of an American corre spondent actually present at the scene of action, this paper is here presented.- ED.

village in which we sojourned for a brief rest we were surrounded by motley throngs of old men and women, dirty and half-naked children, who greeted us with shrill cries of "Aguinaldo! Aguinaldo!" Invariably we returned a similar greeting, taking pains, however, to add that we were friends of Aguinaldo, whom we considered an able and generous man, a staunch and brave patriot. It was as much as our lives were worth to say anything derogatory to the "President," and when we expressed opinions complimentary to him we were treated with genuine courtesy. Cries of "Aguinaldo mucho bueno!» pursued us as our horses sped through little pueblos here and there and past nipa huts fringing the banks of the Pasig, and assailed us when we brought our steeds down to a dog-trot in muddy roads. It was at first impossible to comprehend why Aguinaldo's name was in such common use as a word of greeting among the

cess in playing upon the people's fears and superstitions. It cannot be denied that he is above the average of his race in intelligence and ability, but it was not because of his absolute superiority that he became "President of the Filipino Republic." Many native business men in Manila, men of honor and ability, who far surpass Aguinaldo in intellectual gifts, have steadfastly refused to identify themselves with him or his republic, knowing how impossible it would be for the natives to establish and operate a government by themselves. Aguinaldo, however, is a politician and is conversant with some tricks used by politicians. He had opportunity to learn and he copied the methods of Spanish officials. He was an apt pupil, but when he got into power he enlarged upon Spanish methods, and by practising upon the superstitions of his people became their idol. As he is the central figure in the present war, a brief reference

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