The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (March 1897)

The Optical Magic Lantern Journal and Photographic Enlarger. 47 birthday that I took my first lesson. My father had arranged with a Manchester photographer to put me through my facings, and the pleasure I felt in carrying home my first attempts in the form of a positive picture of Mr. Collodion himself, I well remember. The study I have followed all my life, though but an amateur, the only profit ever derived being to my own stock of lantern slides.” From his earliest days the all important object at heart with him seems to have been a thirst for knowledge. Articled to a firm of Photo by J. Hubert,} 1896. [Mare St.” Hackney manufacturing goldsmiths in the west of London, he soon won the pseudonym from his fellow-apprentices of ‘Old Dictionary,” owing to his studious habits, and the fact that he was seldom without a small dictionary in the pocket of his blouse. Whilst in this house of business, where he remained sixteen years, opportunities were Offered for the study of mechanics in their several departments. executing articles of jewellery, and knickknacks for many a royal wedding or court festival. He further went in for the science of He had much to do in | i him: ‘* Your powers are of no mean order. Horology, at the Horological Institute, of which he was a member. At the age of eighteen, he became associated with the Birbeck Institution, where he studied music, chemistry, literature, and elocution, having such—future—luminaries for his co-students as Arthur W. Pinero, William Fitzhenry, Tom E. Gatehouse, Mary Jeffries Lewis, and many others. In 1870, he passed the examination for elocution, under the late Professor Plumtre, of King’s College, and was awarded the certificate of the first class. At the Birkbeck he held office as one of the class secretaries for the long term of ten years, during which period he was the recipient of two handsome testimonials, each being accompanied by a framed address, bearing testimony to his usefulness and energy. From the first of these we quote, ‘‘ His untiring perseverance, and the unostentatious manner in which he performed his duties, gained him the universal esteem of the entire class.” Christmas, 1873. And from the second, on his retiring from the secretaryship in 1878, ‘As a mark of our esteem, regard, and recognition of his services, and arduous endeavours at all times to secure our comfort and happiness at the Birkbeck Literary and Scientific Institution.” Following in the elocutionary groove, in 1872 he accepted an invitation from the committee of the institute of St. John’s, as master of the elocution classes, which position he held for four years. In a testimonial to him, the President, Rev. J. J. Coxhead, M.A., of School Board fame, said: ‘He is an_ excellent elocutionist of correct pronunciation, and free from mannerism of al! kinds.”’ He was a student for two years at the British Musical and Dramatic Institute, the manager writing : “ He has won for himself the highest marks of public approbation, which on occasions reached the greatest enthusiasm.” About this time, Mr. Charles Warner wrote If it is your intention to adopt the stage as a profession, and I can be of any possible service to you, J am at your command.” Truly a tempting offer. Between 1870 and 1880 he seems to have been a very busy man, according to the portfolio of credentials, programmes, and criticisms before us, and from which we cull one week’s engagements, which will convey some idea as to the demand on his services :—Monday, Hospital for Paralysis, to fill in half-hour; Tuesday, lantern lecture, St. Mary’s, Paddington, 7.30, 1} hours; Wednesday, Birkbeck, entertainment at 8, two hours; Thursday, City of London College, at 8, monological musical, etc., two