Camera Etiquette

Publicity may be either a boon or a burden. To those who get too much, it is certainly a burden. For such mortals a book should be written telling the proper etiquette when confronted by reporters or news photographers. They should be told, if possible, how to avoid the obloquy which the tinted press heaps upon their slightest slips in press etiquette.

Perhaps it may not always be possible to avoid such obloquy. Consider the case of Gaston B. Means, summoned to testify before the Senate Committee investigating Attorney General Daugherty (see Page 2). Detectives, like diplomats, are hardened to publicity. Mr. Means may have pictured to himself the photographs of misbegotten individuals appearing in the Daily News, Manhattan gumchewers' sheetlet, or other kindred papers. The poor unfortunates had tried to hide their faces from the camera. As result their portraits were printed with such remarks as "the alleged -- shamedly covering his face" or "the notorious -- cowering before the camera."

Mr. Means, not minded to take such treatment, faced the camera squarely. Next day the News published his picture. It could not be said that he was hiding or cowering. He exposed himself fully to the lens with an expression which was not entirely unlike "that of a slightly irate billikin. But the ingenious editors of the News were not to be outwitted by such a trick. They captioned the photograph: "Means, scornfully facing camera."