The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (November 1896)

190 The Optical Magic Lantern Journal and Photographic Enlarger. while the introduction of celluloid films has made it possible to have a suitable base for the sensitive film, either negative or positive (transparent) of practically unlimited length. ifs hia. Fresh Lantern Slide Work. oe EVERTING to his article in our issue 2 for last July, and his letter in last number, Mr. Albert Tranter sends us the following list of towns, with marginal notes, for the assistance : of those desirous of striking out in S a particularly interesting line of obtain&Q ing instructive subjects for exhibition with the lantern :— AMBERLEY, GLOUCESTERSHIRE.— Places mentioned ‘‘ John Halifax, Gentleman." ASTLEY, NEAR WORCESTER.—Birthplace of Miss F. R. Havergal. BatH.—Tomb of William Beckford, author of ‘ The Caliph Vathek.”’ BrMERTON, NEAR SALISBURY.—Residence of the poet, George Herbert. BRIsTOL.—Birthplace of the poet Southey. CHALFonT, Sr. GrILeEs, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. — House occupied by the poet Milton during the Great Plague. CLEVEDON, SOMERSET.—"' Coleridge Cottage."’ CLEVEDON, SOMERSET.—Memorial tablet to Arthur Hallam in St. Andrew's Parish Church, vide Tennyson’s ‘(In Memoriam "’ :— ‘And in the dark church like a ghost Thy tablet glimmers to the dawn.” Eston, BEDFORDSHIRE.—Birthplace of the poet, John Bunyan. : FAIRFORD, GLOUCESTERSHIRE.—Birthplace of the Rev. John Keble, author of ‘* The Christian Year.”’ GaTcomBE, MINCHINHAMPTON.—Residence of the late Mr. David Ricardo. NETHER, STOWEY, SOMERSETSHIRE.—Residence of the poet, S. T. Coleridge. (Now ‘Coleridge Arms.’’) Upuam, HampsHirneE.—Birthplace of the poet and divine, Edward Young, author of ‘‘ Night Thoughts.”’ HorsHam, Sussex.—Tablet to memory of P. B. Shelley in the Parish Church. SHEFFIELD.—Monument to James Montgomery, the poet and hymn writer. BRADFIELD, EsseEx.—Residence of Sir Edwin Arnold. Rowton, SHROPSHIRE.—Birthplace of Richard Baxter, author of ‘' The Saint's Rest.’’ KIDDERMINSTER.—Statue to last named. LAURENCERIRK, KINCARDINESHIRE.— Birthplace of James Beattie, author of ‘‘ The Minstrel.” Fievp Puace, Sussrex.—Birthplace of Percy B. Shelley. Via Reaaio, Iraty.—Monument to last named. ECCLEFECHAN, DUMFRIESSHIRE.—Birthplace of Thomas Carlyle. HEBDEN Foster in BRIDGE, YORKSHIRE.—Birthplace of John Environment. By H. A. SANDERS. ~ N page 61 of that admirable shillings’ worth, the Macic LANTERN JOURNAL ANNUAL, there is a very good article on ‘‘ The Dignity of the Lantern,” and there is much in it with which I, in common with no doubt many of your readers, concur ; but it is wise always to look at everything from more than one point of view. Let us see if we cannot view some of Mr. Nash’s ‘‘ views ” from another point, and make them ‘dissolve ”’ a little, if not disappear. Take the first statement anent the decline of the popularity of the lantern. Granted! but the wherefore? The great treat of the dissolving view shows of your contributor’s boyhood days was probably due to the beauty of the slides and the excellent manipulation of the lantern. Why are such beautiful slides a _ rarity nowadays? Has the artist's hand lost its cunning, or is it not a fact that he finds it pays | best to colour a dozen photo slidee on the ‘ all| in-a-row’ style, z.e., a blue streak of sky, a grey streak of mid-distance, and a brown streak of | fore-ground ? I know men who would far rather ‘‘ create’ a beautiful effect, but how about the sale of it when finished ? The craze for cheap work and cheap apparatus is no doubt, as the said contributor says, the root of the evil, and the ‘‘ hirist ” of to-day, instead of the “ purchaser ’ of yesterday, is what most dealers have to reckon with. — The illustration of one of the greatest living authorities on natural history having his lecture ' “ sandwiched ”’ between a dramatic piece and _@ concert is no doubt very deplorable from a | lecturer’s point of view, but it is a question of | environment, this lecturing on scientific sub jects, natural history, or what not. I speak with some knowledge of lecturers and their ways, and it is evident that they do not always study the class of audience they have to entertain as well as instruct. Possibly that dramatic piece, or that concert, was all the majority of the audience of that ‘‘ greatest living authority ’’ cared for, and if folks will try and ram dull subjects down the throats of a mixed audience, the lantern will not only take a back seat, but keep it! Educate with the lantern by all means, but at the right time and in the right place. Then, a word as to the “ fitness of things.” Curtain slides as an introduction to an exhibition of Scripture subjects may be out of