Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 270, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 November 1912 — TAKING A CAMERA ABROAD [ARTICLE]

TAKING A CAMERA ABROAD

It Behooves One to Be Careful at What It Is Pointed—Foreign Nations Are Peevish. If the American tourist carries his camera to Europe with him he must be careful to avoid photographing persons, private property and particularly government buildings, forts, docks and ships without permission. Many tourists have got themselves into much trouble in this way, especially in Russia, where the restrictions are unusually rigid and in Germany, also. A few years ago Germany passed a special bill through the reichstag dealing with this matter and imposing heavy penalties upon those who infringe the regulations. Damages to the amount of $1,500, with a fine of $250, or two months’ imprisonment, will henceforth be the fate of anyone who snapshots a private person, a work of art or the interior of a private building and circulates or publishes the picture without permission. Persons in the public eye, such as members of the royal family, statesmen, actors and well-known divines, are excepted. So, too, are public buildings and works of art in public galleries. In Portugal the authorities are curiously suspicious. A gentleman recently wrote to a London paper saying that he was arrested for snapping the royal palace in Cintra. It is possible, however, that under the new Portuguese regime the palaces will no longer be held so sacred. In Italy the camera of the tourist Is made the means of providing revenue for that somewhat impoverished country. If you carry your camera when on a visit to Pompeii or others of the recently excavated ruins you may take as many photographs as you please, but you are forced to pay a small fee for each plate exposed. Films are now obtainable In every large city of Europe, and in many smaller ones, so it is not necessary to carry a large supply, but a developing tank is advisable. With it one can develop anywhere in daylight, and

make sure before leaving a locality just what his results are. Standard chemicals for tank development can also be obtained In stores where films of American sizes are kept in stock, so one needs only to provide against possible need in small towns.