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NOTES ON PASSING EVENTS.
BY A PERIPATETIC PHOTOGRAPHER.
THE _Attractive Chemical Experiments for Youthful Readers_, by the
Editor of the ALMANAC, and which, I suppose, was “crowded out” of that
widely-circulated annual, forms a special kind of reading that will
prove attractive to old as well as youthful readers; for I believe I am
quite safe in affirming that chemical “tricks” are equally appreciated
by old and young. I recollect attending on one occasion an entertainment
of a very attractive nature, which may be described as follows:—The
lecturer, having placed on the table several glasses apparently quite
clean and empty, proceeded to fill them from an ordinary decanter full
of water; first, however, asking the audience to name the liquors they
preferred. Suffice it to say that by request the glasses were
respectively filled with what purported to be port, sherry, whisky, rum,
brandy, and so forth. When milk was asked for, the white fluid was
immediately produced; so with soda water, which fizzed and sparkled, and
with ginger beer, the froth of which stood stiff, without subsiding. One
gentleman, anathematising the temperance fluids, asked for a glass of
something hot and fiery; and, in response, a glass was filled and from
it issued flames of fire. As the clear glass decanter was filled with
water in the presence of the audience this trick was rendered more
surprising than if an opaque bottle had been employed, as is the custom
with the majority of “inexhaustible bottle” conjurers. As this is not
written for youthful readers, but for those who are everyday readers of
the Journal, I will pay a compliment to their chemical perspicuity and
assume that they know how these changes took place. However, if I hear
that I have assumed too much, I will next month give the explanation of
these small chemical marvels.
* * * * *
Who does not sympathise with a “Black-Country Foto.,” who appears to
think that there is no use in his sending portraits to the London
exhibition because he can’t afford to have his negatives worked upon to
the degree that seems requisite to permit of successful competition? If
the gossip that was indulged in by the visitors to the exhibition is to
be credited, the preparing of the portrait negatives of one amateur must
have been attended with no small cost; for it was asserted that he not
only had skilled professional aid, but that the negatives were handed
over to a retoucher to be dealt with regardless of expense. Where Dives
goes in for honours Lazarus has, under similar circumstances, but small
chances of success. When specimens from untouched negatives are
exhibited (not necessarily to the exclusion of prints after touching),
then will some grumbling cease.
* * * * *
The South London Photographic Society has at last quitted its old
quarters in the City of London College and has removed to a more central
situation. Between the convenience and elegance of Arundel Hall and the
City of London College there is no comparison; and the removal ought to
tell most beneficially upon the prospects of the society.
* * * * *
The communications already made to photographic societies this year
indicate activity. At the recent meeting of the London Photographic
Society Mr. Sawyer read a paper on _Photography in the Printing Press_,
in which he took occasion to discuss the novelty of Mr. Edwards’s
process, so far as its patentability was concerned. At the monthly
meeting of the South London Society there were two papers—one by Mr.
Dunmore, on _The Cause and Prevention of Blisters on Albumenised Paper_,
the other being by Mr. Croughton, _On Photographic_ versus _Literal
Truth_. In the former the cause of blistering was alleged to be the
imperfectly rendering soluble of the under surface of the albumen; in
the latter (the discussion on which is deferred till next meeting) the
essayist spoke of the exaggerations and distortions caused by using a
short-focus lens, and he condemned the pandering to human weakness
displayed by a large firm who owed its success to the amount of flattery
bestowed upon its customers by the inordinate use of retouching. At the
meeting of the Edinburgh Photographic Society a _resumé_ of the progress
of the past year was given by Dr. Nicol, who is of opinion that the
conversion of a distorting lens into a non-distorting one is an
improvement of doubtful value—an opinion in which the generality of
photographers will scarcely coincide. The Manchester Photographic
Society had a paper by Mr. Coote _On the Good Keeping Qualities of
Collodio-Albumen Plates between Exposure and Development_. It is an
unfortunate thing that many dry plates, after exposure, do not retain
the latent image; hence the necessity for developing as quickly as
possible after the camera has effected its portion of the work. As a
type of processes of this kind the tannin may be mentioned, whether this
substance be used as a preservative in the silver bath or the emulsion
methods. Mr. Coote developed successfully a collodio-albumen plate which
had been kept for more than two years after being exposed.
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