Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-09-16
LINCOLN TELEGRAPH.
Bath, ntr.
THURSDAY MORNING, SEPT. 10, 1871
Lecture ON the Daguerreotype.


We have received letter from Mr.. PURKiTT,
gentleman well and lavoraby known 10 our clzens as
an able and eloquent lecturer. ofwhich the following
is an extract, which we commend 10 the attention
of our readers.
'sPermit me my dear Clarke, en- PEASANT, to IN
form you that Mr. S. s. Sullivan, of Boston, is IN
tending to visit your place for the purpose OF delV
ering one or more lectures the novel and exceed
ingy simple and beautiful discovery of Dagaerre.
Mr. S. is well educated gentleman of fine talents,
of vivid imagination and an excellent writer. lie
will be listened to, am persuaded, with great inter-
est by the intelligent citizens of Bath
The discovery of Daguerre is new and wonder
full. But strange to say, like many other discover
les, it has fallen into bad hands-into the nands oil
men who have never investigated, and therefore,
cannot be supposed to understand either its prnci-
pes or Its details-men, who are as ignorant OF
Photography as a SCIENCE as "a horse is OF the prln-
cipes of the Steam engine-in word it has fallen
into the hands of men whose only qualification to
teach it is, their-igaorance. Though there be
many who practice the Daguerreotype as an art yet
how few are Competent to explain it ! Their know
ledge appears TO be all in their .fngers-and alas
that it appears SO badly there-not in their heads
am persuaded that your citizens need only exercise
thei. own discernment and sound practical good
sense to perceive tine difference toto caelo-between
truth and fiction, knowledge and ignorance, merit
and pretension
I IN q hiatt npV
been but one gentleman who has lectured upon this
subject in this country, and he, think, was for
eigner The fact is, there are no books upon the
sub iect; those, therefore who investigate it must
have resources within themselv be able by
knowledge of details TO establish general principles
and to carry them out into practice. II is for this
reason that think that the lectures of Mr. s. will
command the attention and receive the appreciation
of gentlemen of science and all the lovers of the
arts hope the good citizens of Bath will give him
hearing as doubt not they will find their even
ing spent in an agreeable and instructive manner
understand he intends to lecture on Monday
evening next, of which presume due notice will be
given.
With respect TO his Daguerreoiype Porlraures
can only say in the language of one of your coiem-
porary journals, 'lhey wonderfully perfect and
sulpass in correctness and beauty any that | have
ever seer they as far exceed those tina; have often
times come under my notice, as an exqulsitely fin
lshed steel engraving does one coarsely ard cumsly
executed on wood. Indeed, can conceive of Moth
ing which can be added 10 make his pictures more
e-like unless it be the colors and nts of nature
itself In this respect only, if at ALL can painted
portrait be preferred. In all Others in accuracy and
and minuteness of delineation, in the striking
RICHNESS of the features the delicate alterations of
light and shade, the Daguerreoype Miniatures is as
much superior to painting, the veritabe produce
tons of Nature are TO the penclings Of the most ac
complished artist. These superiorilies, together
with the ease with which the likenesses are taken,
(requlring sitting Of only few Sc onds,) and Nh
low price at which they can be obtained, must rem
der them exceedingly popular But your citizens
will be able by an inspection of his specmens,to sat
sfy themselves of the WOE der(u results Of this pro-
cess.
doubt not that many of your friends and neigh
bors will embrace the opportunity that will be pre-
sented 10 them of'Seietng the SHADOW ere the sub
stance fades > of snachng from oblivion some faces
that are worth saving from the corrOsons of time
Yours truly.