The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-09-16

they are always overthrow, they persist
in organizing for new combats and de-
feats. They never get so demoralized
they won't fight. Our friend of the Indi-
annapolis Journal proves no exception to
the rule. We gave him plain fact. He
meets it with a theory, which, like others
which have been arrayed in opposition
to facts, must go to the wall
The Journal can't see why a picture
won't remain on live retina as we'll as
dead one? We think it does, until it is re-
placed by another image which comes be-
tween the eye and the object at which it
was looking. Ifnow, some process can be
adopted by which the retina of the eye
is instantaneously darkened, SO that no
new image will take the place of the one
upon which it was last fastened, we feel
satisfied there will be found printed up
on the retina, the object which it last
beheld We do not know that it is, but
may not sudden death be that very pro-
cess. When a daguerreotype is taken,
the plate is carefully secluded from the
light until ingredients are placed on it
to secure the image against its effect
Let any object pass between the person
and the camera in which the plate is
placed that is to receive his impression,
and the same effect is produced as is
made upon the retina of the eye by the
shifting of objects. 1t is only by keep
ing the plate in the dark until the i'm
age is permanently fixed that portrait
is secured If person gazes intensely
at any object for length of time, and
then suddenly shuts his eyes, the image
at which he was looking will seem almost
as distinct as though the eyes had not
been closed: and it only disappers when
the eyes are opened again to the light.
But whatever may be the theory
and we confess our incompetency to
discuss it as it merits-the fact we sta
ted is undeniable, and that others may
so consider it, we this morning lay be-
fore our readers statement from DR..
DeBruler, who examined the photograph
and ambrotypes taken by Mr.. Adams
with great care We are satisfied his
statement will set at rest the fact that il
the eye of the murdered man was a pic
ture of human face of so peculiar an
appearance that no one could be mis-
AIKEN as to its main characteristics.
EVANSVILLE, Ind, Sept. II, 1868.
EDITOR " journal I'm accordance
with your request, herewith send you g
brief statement of the appearances pre-
scented to my mind OF examining the
ambrotype, taken by Mr.. Adams, of tbs
eve of Mr.. Herke after he was murdered
/ may be permitted to say in the begin
ming, that l made the investigation
wholly in the interest of science and truth
having no theory to sustain, and, l viii
add, no faith in the alleged discovery.
After adjusting the tense for som,
time, I succeeded in getting the prope
focal distance, when l began CAREFUL,
to scan the retipa, which at frs
only presented a generally blurred ap
pearance. After looking at it, perhap
for moment or two, l changed m,
position so as to throw a stronger ligh
countenance; not as distinctly as 5oi
would find in good photograph, We
sufficiently so as to leave no doubt, il
my mind, of the fact. 1t was seen an,
recognized at the same time by mum
Der of highly intelligent gentlemen
among whom was my friend DR.. Thomp
son.
Indeed, l believe, with one exception
every person present recognized it. TIL,
exception was Mr.. Elliott, the artist, WHIT
said he saw nothing of the kind. HI,
alleged that what we took for human
face had been drawn by scratching the
retina with knife, and that he could
produce another on any other part of the
picture, which he undertook to do. and
to some extent succeeded, though 1t Ger
tainiy fell far short of the one we had
examined. Mr.. Adams then banded me
the original, from which this ambrotype
had been taken. In this original picture
there had manifestly been no scratching
about the eye. ! therefore scrutinized
it with much care, for which was soon
amply repaid; for in this l Dissolved the
same countenance fully as distinctly as
In the first one examined.
l should have stated before, that in the
first picture the head seemed inclined to
the right shoulder In this there seem
ed to be the same inclination, but to the
left shoulder This at first surprised me.
and | asked Mr.. Adams to explain it.
This, he said, was always the case in
ambrotypes; that is, every attitude is re-
versed; for instance, hair combed to the
right side in one picture will appear
combed to the left in a picture taken
from it. This seems to me strong proof
that there was no deception in the mat
ter, for | was not expecting such an atti-
tude; indeed, as stated above, was sur
prised at it
give the above for what it is worth
feel positive was not deceived. In
deed, L do not see how l could have been
A score or more persons concurred with
me, being fully as well satisfied as nv
self l have nothing to do with the the
DRY deduced from this discovery. Yet |
may add, | seq nothing unphiiosophical
about it. 1t is well recognized princi-
nal IN or14.o- H., Ill