The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (May 1903)

82 shown by capable men with good apparatus, a great deal of the apathy on part of the public would be swept away, the tendency is to patronise concerts, negro, or pierrot entertainments, to the exclusion of really good lectures. Societies ure willing to pay lecturers from £5 ds. to £15 14s. fecs, they then look round for the cheapest man they can get to illuminate the slides, forgetting that the success of the lecture depends in a large measure on the manner in which they ave shown. The remedy is in the hands of the lecturers, and we hope that in making thelr next season’s engagements they will make a point of this; and see in future that good shdes are not spoilt by bad lantern manipulation. Lecturers should during the present summer overhaul their slides, and in many instances smash half ov even two-thirds of their present stock and replenish them with more up-to-date, crisp and clean slides. Let them trust their negatives to some of the collodion slide makers while the Weather is bright, and their audiences next season will shew greater appreciation of their trouble in taking the negatives. We know it is nice to say : “I took these negatives and made the slides.” The slides may be good of the sort, but’ the sort ts not quality. We would also like to appeal for a little more consideration of the audience who do not want a surfeit of pictures. It is getting to be a very common practice to boast of having 200, 250 or 300 slides put through the lantern in the course of the lecture.(?) Our ideal of a lecture is 60 to 80 slides well coloured, all of one register and size of opening, given into the hands of a lanternist with a Biunial, and remarks lasting from one hour to 11 hours, leaving off with the audience wishing for more, rather than Walking out before half the slides are through. aN \ eal Mere Mention. I ay Bp Hurman, Ltd.—<After inspecting the artistic and commodious premises acquired by this wellknown firm of Photographic stock dealers at 89, Grafton Street, Dublin, on the 20th inst., their clients and _ friends Central TIotel. Mr. Charles Percy, Chairman of the Company, presiding. In proposing the toast of ‘‘ Prosperity to the trade of Dublin” he hoped that the tirm would contribute to its success, to which Mr. Victor Sinyth responded. ‘The toast of the Photographic Trade was proposed by Mr. Townsend, and responded to by Messrs. D'Arcy and J. Smith. Myr. Dorman proposed the toast were entcrtained at the THE OPTICAL magic LANTERN JOURNAL of ‘““ Hurman, Limited,” which was responded to by Mr. Hurman and the Chairman. The health of the Dublin Manager, Mr. West, was proposed by Mr. Mansfield and cordially received. After the toast to the Press and Chairman was proposed and honoured, a most enjoyable evening was brought to a close. The coming of Hurman, Limited, has been welcomed as a boon by all connected with the photographic trade in Ireland, and from all parts of the country they have received letters of congratulation. They provide a dark room for the use of amateurs, and undertake to demonstrate the manipulation of various photographic cameras and papers, etc., free. Nottingham Camera Club.—A _ Lecture under the auspices of the Club was delivered at the Mechanics’ Institution, on March 31st, by Mr. Charles Allen Ferneley, on “Tramps with the Camera in Thoroton’s Land.” Mr. W. S. Tillis presided. The places visited and illustrated included St. Mary’s Church and the Castle, Nottingham, Newark Castle, Wollaton Hall, Wiverton Hall, and the churches and tombs of Langar, Whatton, Holme Pierrepont, Car Colston, Sereveton, Melton, &c. The illustrations were by lantern slides from the original photographs of the castles, halls, villages, churches, and tombs as described by the authoritative historian of Nottinghamshire, Thomas Thoroton. Aberdeen Working Men’s Natural History Society.—On Tuesday, March 31st, in the Botanical classroom, Moarischal College, an interesting display of lantern slides belonging to members of the Aberdeen Working Men’s Natural History and Scientific Society was given, which was much cnjoyed and appreciated by a large audience. The pictures shown on the screen were of high artistic merit, and comprised natural history, local, and other varied photographic views, many of them coloured. There were over 200 slides shown by Mr. J. Davidson, who is an expert inanipulator of the lantern, the slides being sent in by Messrs. William Innes, Woodside; Wm. Cowie, Inverurie; Thomas Tait, Inverurie ; D. B. M’Coss, Aberdeen; and J. Davidson, Aberdeen. Several of these gentlemen gave racy comments as the pictures were exhibited, and very hearty applause was frequent. Mr. George Reay, the President, at the close, proposed a vote of thanks to the exhibitors of the slides, which was heartily passed. He then intimated that the list of the society’s local transactions would be published shortly,