The Express.
London, England, 1863-08-13 00:00:00

TES MANUFACTURE OF GHOSTS.

The following explanation of the method of
maanfacturing ghosts is taken from the North British Daily
Mail :

When any one looks into a glass or metallic mirror be sees
an image or ghost of himself. If his neigubour looks over
his shoulder he, too, sees the same ghost. What gives this
business of ghost-making its chief mystery is the plan of
concealing adroitly the person or object who or which is to
be ghostitierl, and showing only the image or ghost, and
thus mapping the otherwise palpable connexion between the
true object, animate or inanimate, and its picture or repre-
sentation. If a plane metallic or silvered glass mirror only
were employed in producing the ghost a child would
not be startled at the effect* produced, however com-
pletely the original object might be concealed from view ;
but it is otherwise, and all are surprised, when an image
or ghost is called up before the observer without any
apparent connection with mirror action at all. Now,
without going job the questions in optical science re-
specting the reflection of light from plane surfaces, the
formation of images by plane mirrors, or of multiple
images formed by glass mirrors, we may remark that me-
tallic mirrors have but one reflecting surface, giving only
one image of an object. With glass mirrors this is differ-
ent. They give rise to several images which are readily ob-
served when the image of • candle is looked at
obliquely in a mamma looking-ems. A very feeble
image of the candle is seen, and then a very dis-
Meet one. Behind this there are several others,
whose intensity or dearness gradually decreases until
it disappears. This phenomena. or appearance arises from
the looking-glass having two reflecting surfaces—that of the
face of the plate, and that of the laver of metal which covers
the hinder surface of the glue. The greater feebleness of
the image reflected from the glass than from the metal
surface arises from the circumstance that the metal reflects
better than the glass. It completely intercepts the light
reflected from the original object, and throws it back to the
eye, Now, in ghost-making a plate of clear glass is placed
between the oteervers mad where the ghost is made to ap-
pear ; and what is seen as the ghost is nothing more than
the feeble image of • true object, produced by reflection
from the surface of the plate. But the gbret, when
well shown, is an intensely vivid image, the very reverse of
feeble ; and the question is, How is the intensification of au
originally feeble image effected? It is effected by greatly
reducing or extinguishing all other lights, and by concen-
trating en intense light on the original object., and thus
mealy increasing the retlectieg power of the clear glass
plate, and by at the same time forming a dark background
behind the plate, which further lariats in throwing out the
image or ghost to the eye of the spectator. All this is
quite a common occurrence in the shop windows along
the streets, and perhaps still better shown iu • lighted
railway carriage at night. The ghosts of the pan-
angers in the carriage are shown through the carriage
windows upon the apparent ground of the dark sky, and
the carriage lamp, front its being the most luminous object,
presents the mast vivid ghost of ell. As ordinarily repre-
sented on the stage, the arrangements for the production of
• ghost are esmetially as follows:—The front of the stage
is made to rise five feet or so from• the floor. Within this
terrier, and deeding down out of sight, and facing the
stage, the true 'object is placed. A Urge plate of glass
is made to rest on the stage, and to lean slightly forward
towards the person or object that is to be glstified.
The image of the object is reflected from the glees
plate to the audience, and this image is seen by them
to be as far behind the plate as the true object is placed
in advance of it. Tire electric light, or usually what is
called the "lime" or " Drummoud light," sent through
the condenser of • lamp or magic lateen, is at the same time
projected on the original object. The ghost is seen to be
illuminated from below up, and this comes of placing the
lamp low, and throwing the light on the true object up-
wards. A white lustrous dress given to a female personating
the ghost exalts the effect. The lave ghosts shown have the
habit of laming forward so as to catch as much of ibis illumi-
nation as possible. AU the room lights are in the meantime re-
duced, other wise the audience also, as in the case of the passen-
gers in the railway carriage, would be converted into ghosts.
As much light, sod no more, is loft on the stage as admits of
the actors oar it being seen. These performers see no
ghost ; all their movements are calculated as to place sod
time. The ghost placed on the stage so far as the adapta-
tions of this illusion have yet gone, is fixed ; a hand or
part of the body may be moved, hut not the whole, beyond
a very small distance. if any one wishes to assure himself
about the use of the glean, a pea or pellet of paper flung
against it will assure him. "The ghost" will afford abun-
dant fun for the Christmas pantomimes, and tradition will
be ransacked for all ghost stories to utilise this curious and
amusing triple. "Tam o' Shooter," and "Death and Dr. Horn -
book,"arecepitsl themes ; aod besides the beets •af tradition and
of literature, the ghat suggestion is likely to be abundantly
fertile in all aorta of new dramatic iuventiona, wherein
sprites may be introduced. Chest-making will become also
a fatally amusement, we hays uo doubt, and the simplicity
of the apparatus employed for the production of the many
Mashies of which this matter is capable, will set the youth
of both sexes to work amusement during the approaching
winter months. A parlour table, a large sheet of glass, a
toy magic lantern, arid • few yards of black linen, will do
for apparatus, and all the babies in the household can be
made ghosts together or in turn. Of course we are quite
aware that it is the common practice of interested parties to
surround this novelty in optical illusion with mystery, and
to deny that any one knows aught about the matter but the
especially initiated.

LONDON SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF YOI'NO
FEMALE-M.—The annual meeting of the friends and sot,
porters of this institution was held yesterday at the asylum,
Tottenham, Dr. Specks in the chair. Mr. T. It. Talbot,
the secretary, read the report of the con.mittee, which gave
an interesting detail of the operations of the society during
the past year. During that period numerous applications
had bees made to the committee by the friends and parents
of children varying from 11 to 15 yens of age, many of the
cases being of a distressing character, and fully proving the
necessity pad usefulness of the society. Daring the year 24
young female' have been received into the asylum or have
been placed out to service, eight have been restored to their
friends, leaving 54 in the asylum on the 30th of June last.
The average number to the house last year wee 59.
n• financial statement showed the total income for the year
bad been 1,9871.15 a. 4el. and the expenditure 1,941/. >k 3d.,
leaving a balsam of 6/. Se. 2d. The funded property now
amounts to 1,9501. The lease of the premises now occupied
by the society expiring at Christmas, 1863, the committee
were under the necessity of looking out for another
and they bare effected the purchase of • mansion at VZB.O.
stead for the sum of 2,5001., to which the asylum will be
removed in September next, and to meet this outlay the
support of the him& of the society la earnestly solicited.
The Mod was adopted.

THE PARIS BOURSE.
PARIS, AccrsT 12.
The Bourse has been firm. Rentea closed at
67.40, or fic. lower than yesterday.

THE AUSTRIAN CONGRESS AT FRANK-
FORT.
VIENNA, AcciosT 12, Ett.warc.
The Emperor leaves here to-morrow for Frank-
fort, and will visit on his way the courts of Munich
and Stuttgart.
His Majesty will stay at Frankfort at least a
week.
The only refusal as yet received to the Emperor's
invitation to the German princes has been sent by
the King of Holland, who would represent the
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Duchy of
Limburg.
The Kings of Prussia and Denmark have not yet
come to a decision on the subject.
The Archduke Maximilian has arrived here to be
present at a family council.

THE POLISH INSURRECTION.
LEMBERG, Accusr 12, Evr.Nncc.

The insurgents are said to have gained a decided
victory near Jauow, and to have dispersed the Rus-
sians, while they are reported to have been beaten
near Mazow.

Telegraphic communication with Warsaw is
again interrupted in all directions.

ITALY.

(now ova owx CORIZSPONDIVT.)
TURIN, At:cow 9.

The Italian government redoubles its ac-
tivity against the brigands who are still in the
field. It need not be supposed that it has done
nothing this year because it has only just obtained
exceptional authority from parliament. From the
let of January, 1863, to the Ist of August, 1,180
brigands have been taken. Of these some were
killed fighting, others were shot, and others were
arrested and handed over to the legal authorities.
The rest voluntarily surrendered. The number of
the last named will be greatly increased doubtless
during the next fortnight. In a few days Colonel
Fumel will again set out for Calabria, the people
having sent petitions, letters, deputations, and
municipal resolutions, urging his return.

I mentioned some little time since that the
departure of Sir James Hudson would cause much
regret. He will leave in a day or two to visit
some valleys under Monte Rosa, and be will
then make his way into the Tyrol and Venetia.
Meanwhile lie is looking out for a villa on the
lovely Lake of Como. Sir James Hudson has
many friends throughout all Italy, but principally
in the north. If his successor follows in his foot-
steps he will be very useful to England. Mr.
Elliot must have seen, during his residence iu
Naples, how impossible it would be to restore not
merely the Italy of 1815 but that of the com-
mencement of 1859.
Sir James Hudson has done his utmost to main-
tain Euglish influence in Idly, but it must be
admitted that he has frequently had to struggle
with the prejudices of Lis own government even
more than with the cleverness of French diploma-
tists. If he had been listened to by the English
ministry Italy would perhaps have been more
solidly constituted, and France would not have
possessed Nice. Sir James Hudson, in 1859, was
compelled against his convictions to oppose the war
with Austria ; yet war took place. If England,
niaki og a virtue of necessity, bad merely lent the aid of
her fleet in that war, France would nut have reaped
all the merit and the advantage of the
enterprise, and British diplomacy would have been
spared a defeat. Even diplomacy ought to go with
the times and accept the consequences, unless it
wishes to be in opposition to events. Louis
Napoleon and Count Cavour understood this, and
turned the errors and uncertainty of others to
account.

THE OUTWARD MEDITERRANEAN AND BOMBAY
Man.—The Peninsular and Oriental Compeny's steam ship
Ellora, Captain Kellock. sailed from Southampton at 3 p.m.,
yesterday with the mails for Gibraltar, the Mediterranean,
Egypt, Aden, Bombay. and l'pper Bengal, together with
43 passengers. The Elm* took on freight for Bombay,
bar silver, value 131,600!. ; sovereigns, 7,500/. ; silver coin,
4201. ; diamond ring, 6:io/. ; precious stones, 2001. ; and
jewellery, 436/. ; and for Alexandria, jewellery, 340/. ; also
a full cargo of general merchandise.
THE. OUTWARD AMERICAN MAIL—The Ham-
burg and American Coripsey's 'teenier Teutonia sailed
from Southampton yesterday, at 4 p.m., for New York di-
rect, with the usual mails, upwards of 31./0 passengers from
Hamburg Southampton, and Havre, and • general cargo.
ARRIVAL OF THE HANSA FROM AMERICA.—The
North German Lloyd's steamship Hansa, Captain Yin-
santen, from New York, arrived off Cowed yesterday even-
ing. She brings 41 begs of made, 1515 passenger" for South-
ampton, Havre, and Bremen, GOO tons merchandise, 43,000
dole. for Havre, and 86,790 dole. for England. The Hansa left
New York on the Ist of August. On the 10th she apok
the British ship Atmosphere, and on the 11th the Ame-
rican ship Victory. The Bremen ship Guttenberg arrived
at New York on the 29th of July, the Bremen ships
Übland and Bremerhaven on the 30th, and the Hanover
ship Blanche Marie also on the 30th.
DESPATCH OF AMERICAN AND CANADIAN MAILS.—
Yesterday (Wednesday) the lumen steamer City of Baltimore
was despatched from Liverpool for New York, with mails
for the United Staten, together with about sixty passengers,
and a fair cargo. Today (Thursday) the Montreal Ocean
Steamship Company's steamer North Amen= will ail
from the Mersey for Quebec, with the Canadian and United
States mails. Letters, lie., will be received at the Liver-
pool General Poet-office until nine o'clock a.m., and for des-
patch by wavof Londonderry till 8.30 p.m., and with late fees
of ld. until 9.30 p.m. OD Saturday the Canard Royal Mail
steamer Persia will leave Liverpool for New York with the
United States sod British North American mails. The
box at the Poet-office will be open for the reception of letters,
untilB.3o s.m., and nit Queenstown till 8.30 p.m., and
with the usual late fees of Id. until 9.30 p.m.
CRYSTAL PALACR.—The industrial schools of St.
James's (West), from the echool-hones, Battersea•common.
accompanied by several members of the board, paid a visit
to the palace yesterday, accompanied by their bran bands.
The performance of the juvenile musicians reflected great
credit upon their instructors, Mr. Loam, of the Royal
Artillery, and the superintendent of the schools, Mr. G.
1 Rebbstlmmite.