The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (October 1892)

The Optical Magic Lantern Journal and Photographic Enlarger. 115 the Chaldean Archdeacon of Babylon and Jerusalem—who is also Pontificial Delegate General of Nedabor and Ex-Grand Secretary of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Persia and India—has lately arrived at San Francisco, and has positively assured an interviewer that he has seen the veritable ark of Noah — the veritable ship of scriptural history. This learned gentleman has been gathering facts for some years past for a great ecclesiastical history of the eastern church throughout the world. The eminent traveller tells how his party proceeded to ascend to the top of Mount Ararat. The smaller of the two horns is estimated at 16,000 feet high, but their ambition was not satisfied until the larger of the mountains had been attempted, which is 18,000 feet in altitude. ‘‘ After waiting some weeks,” says our authority, “we were abundantly paid for all our labor, for we discovered what I feel sure was the ark, the actual work of Noah. I discovered it myself, being the first to see it. I saw it through a field glass at first ; though we got so close to it that it was visible to the eye alone.’ Then the rev. gentleman gives a detailed description of the ark, ‘‘ which was,” he says, ‘300 yards long and 100 feet high. The wood which was a dark reddish, almost iron coloured and very thick. I thoroughly assured myself, gazing long and repeatedly at different parts of the great craft, that once for forty days and forty nights had on board of it every living and creeping animal and insect, and every flying thing in the world. “ At length I called the attention of my companions, who had arrived on the scene, to it, and they examined it critically, and all admitted that they saw the vessel, the veritable ark of Noah.” I hope to hear more of this alleged discovery, for if its interest can be maintained, the lantern slidest will not be backward in giving us the old story in new clothing. Fancy having the pleasure of directing the attention of your audience to the screen and saying :—This picture ladies and gentlemen demonstrates that— ‘‘The animals went in two by two, The lively flea and the kangaroo.” and so on, and so on. Far be it from me to doubt the word of the gentleman spoken of, but it is a pity he had not taken a small camera with him, it would have been more convincing. Amateur photographers are now to be found in every town in the Kingdom, and they are beginning to find out that there is no better method of showing their friends the picture they have taken, than by means of the optical lantern. T. C. Herwortu. A cheap Portable Lantern Frame and Screen. By Grorce KILBurRN, Now that the lantern season is once more upon us, each one interested in lantern work will be busy preparing for the long winter evenings. For the benefit of those who are in want of a cheap, as well as a portable lantern-frame and screen, I herewith give particulars of one I have just made, and which anyone can make for themselves. Procure one dozen ash broomsticks, plain, without turned-heads, at 3s. 6d. a dozen, 50 inches long. Get your local tinner to make 8 sockets, 6 inches long, to fit the broomsticks. Also 4 angle pieces same length for the corners. You can use the sticks full length, or cut them to 48 inches, and fit them to the sockets. Screw the sockets fast to one end of the sticks, leaving one end loose, to allow for taking to pieces for convenience in packing up. : When all the pieces are fitted together we will have a frame 12 feet square, or by leaving out one piece on each side, it will make an 8 feet frame, suitable for an ordinary room or small school. If all the pieces are sandpapered and varnished with oak varnish, it forms a nice frame fit for any room or company. Sheeting, suitable for showing lantern slides on, can be had from most drapery establishments. Mine is best strong bleached sheeting cotton, (plain not twilled) costing 1s. 9d. per yard, 108 inches wide. Procure some of same quality about 40 inches wide, cut it down the centre; this will give two pieces of proper width for sewing to either side of the wide piece. Next make a hem at one end, and on one side, wide enough to allow the poles to slip through, and put tapes on the opposite sides to the hems. This forms a frame and sheet which can be put together in a few minutes by anyone, and packed up as readily. For the benefit of those who want the prices of each article before commencing to make one, I append the prices which I have paid viz:— 1 dozen ash broomsticks ... diss oe 8straight and 4 angle tin sockets 6ins. long 4 yds. strong bleached sheeting 108 inches wide @ ls. 9d. ...... Par sae 4 yards ditto, 30 inches wide, @ 7d. a yard Varnish... sa ee re age Tape CONN Hw? POorO on Total cost 15° 7