The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (May 1903)

Sd THE OPTICAL magic the home of the Telephone Newspaper, by which subscribers can have the latest news from all parts of the world telephoned to their homes the moment it arrives at the central office. Subscribers to this agency may also have the opera “turned on,” and thus hear the performances without stirring from their houses. The Science of Colour.-Continuing, at the Royal Institution, his lectures on ‘ Light,” Lord Rayleigh dwelt most interestingly on certain characteristics of colour, and later on some of its relations with photography. The lecturer stated that when young he had believed the views put forward in respect to the possibility of a coloured photography were fallacious ; hut discoveries had shown that the idea was in no way chimerical, and would doubtless become a distinct and successful element in pictorial art. The discourse was illustrated by a number of beautiful and successful experiments and lantern slides. Mr. E. T. Reed of ‘‘Puneh”--Under the auspices of the Malvern Literary and Debating Society, a lantern lecture entitled “ Caricatures In and Out of Parliament” was given recently by Mr. Edward Tennyson Reed, a member of the Punch artistic staff. The pictures, shown by first-rate apparatus, numbered about a hundred. They represented his own work, including the renowned ‘“ Prehistoric Peeps.”’ The Bishop of Ripon, assisted by his wife, Mrs. Boyd-Carpenter, who worked a lime-light lantern on Friday, April 9th, addressed 3,000 working men in Leeds Town Hall. Bristol Museum.—On April 15th, a lecture was given by Mr. Herbert Bolton, Curator at the Museum, entitled “The Stone Book of Nature.” Mr. Bolton described the formation of the earth, and said with regard to the origin of the earth it had been supposed by many that ever so long ago—how long they could hardly say—the earth did not exist as they knew it, but that in space there existed a vast voluine of extremely hot gases revolving upon themselves and slowly through space, very much like some of the comets which they saw. By the gradual loss of heat from those gases the outer crusts slightly cooled down, and by and by they got into a solid condition. ‘The same process they saw in water, which, when the heat was taken out of it, beeame hard ice. Mr. Bolton then described the processes by which the aspect of the rocks became changed, and said that the firsts rocks formed showed traces of animal and vegetable life; and judging from the rocks the age of the earth was LANTERN JOURNAL probably between 40 millions and below 100 millions of years. During that time the rocks must have been subjected to many changes. The lecture was admirably illustrated with lantern views. The Use of the Lantern.—The lantern ouzht to be more generally used and is being used in some places wilh effect. On Good Friday night a memorial service was conducted by Rev. A. TL. Walker, B.A.. in his church. It took the form of an address entitled “From the Supper to the Cross.” livery incident during the last few hours was referred to and suitable pictures were given by the aid of the lantern. It was an inpressive service and attended by a large, reverent congregation. A few wecks ago Mr. Walker in a similar way gave an address on “ The Descent to the Cross,” giving incidents in the last six months of our Lord’s ministry. ‘bo says the Methodist Times.—Ep.] Lecture on Bookbinding.—Mr. J. Macfarlane, Laperial Librarian, delivered his interesting lecture in the history of Bookbinding illustrated by lantern slides at the Y.M.C.A. Hall on Saturday night. Mr. Justice Rampini presided in the absence of the Lieutenant-Governor, and there was a good attendance. The lecturer said he preferred to let the pictures tell their own tale, but his brief and well-informed commentary on this probably unique series of slides, which are we believe the work of Mr. Davenport, of the British Museum, was greatly enjoyed. : —Knylishman, Caleutta. Southampton Camera Club held a mecting on the 80th ultimo, Dr. Weston oceupying the chur. Mr. Walter D. Welford, FR.P.S., representing Messrs. Tuerst Bros., gave a very interesting and instructive lecture and demonstration, entitled, “‘Photographic Flexibilities.” Jie deprecated the too prevalent idea that photography is a inere chemical process, consisting of exact formula and scientific accuracy, and advocated the development of individuality, pointing out that the time had fortunately not yet arrived in connection with photographic art when they who expended the greatest sum on instruments and equipment could command the greatest degrec of success. Mr. Welford proved that many good results were obtained by simple methods with inexpensive apparatus, and that the most utility and pleasure were got where the icy paths of formula were not entirely adhered to. The lecture was enlivened by numerous highly instructive lantern slides and prints, and