The Placer herald., 1868-09-19
SUNLIGHT AND MOONLIGHT.

Inc $ollowlug interesting report OF lec'
ture by Professor Morton, at the Academy
Of Music, Philadelphia, We copy from our es'
teemed cotemporary, the Philadelphia Pho
togropAer:
Assuming that bis hearers were acquaint'
ed with the general laws governing the
emission and reflection Of light Prof Nor.
ton proceeded to explain the difference be-
tween regular and difused reflection, Illus
iratng this point by an original and sineu-
larly pleasing experiment. A large mirror
dience. who could see themselves reflected
on its ample surface. Over this mirror An
assistant, at a signal, let fall delicate white
veil, when at once their appeared, as if just
within the surface Of the glass, = phantom
like figure which was then sec smingIy wrap
ped up in the veil, as that was rolled togeth.
er, and appeared to fall with the falling tis-
sue, as it was dropped to the floor. The APP
pearance of this experiment was most heau'
tiful and excited much attention. The lee
turer then explained the method of its ar
rangement, in which lantern, with glass
Photographic picture placed at one side, and
throwing an image obliquely on the mirror,
PLAYED of course, an important part.
Various illustrations projected on the
screen, from photographs of statutes and
mirrors, and landscapes with still water re-
| fl citing the adjacent objects, were then used.
To give such things due etfert in such II
| building, is no easy task. The front of the
stage is fifty feet in Width, and the most dis,
tant of the audience more than one hundred
feet from that point. An immense screen
and powerful illumination are therefore
necessary. The screen employed was of we,
muslin. forty feet square, lowered into its
place at the moment when required. To
cover and illuminate brilliantly such sur
face (sxteen hundred square fee'), no ordin-
ary lantern would suffice, and, accordingly
| Professor Morton has had one constructed
| by Mr.. Zentmayer, with condensers eight in
cbes in diameter, and Of three-inch focus
with which pictures Of corresponding size are
used. Thus an objective of low power may
be employed and loss Of light avoided as
also larger ignited surface of lime utilized
without injury, on account of the correspond
ing increase of siza in all parts. Most Of the
pictures used on this occasion we're made by
Mr.. O. H. Willard, photographer, who also
operated the lantern, and whose skill was
equally we'll illustrated by the pictures pro
duced and the style Of their projection
Some Of the trausparences we're, however
made by Mr.. O. q. Mason, OF New Yo,k
from Mr.. Rutberfurd's negatives, and others
again, by Mr.. J. G. Browne, of Philadelphia
all gentlemen whose skill is we'll known to
our readers.
After the illustrations of reflection above
mentioned, came a series Of moon photo
graphs, ntermixed with copies OF lunar maps
and number Of admirable imaginary views
Of lunar scenery, from drawings prepared
bv Mr.. James Hamilton our eminent artist
who is SO widely known by his marine pieces
and who can produce more apparent motion
and commotion on canvass than any one
living, we believe. These views were of the
most impressive description. especially one
Of the lunar volcano, Copernicus, and its vi
cini,y.
The direct lunar photographs by Mr.. Ruth
erfurd, we're also most effective Thus. W,
bebeld, to our great delight, moon, rounc
and full-orbed, as bright as the original u
minary, but rolling on to the screen as s
globe Of thirty.fve feet in diameter he1
mountains and volcanic cones, and extended
plains distinctly visible. And this was no
a mere picture skillfully painted. but VERT
able reflection Of that orb. The moons owr
face photographed by powerful lenses, aut
magnified by Mr.. Rutherfurd, whose skill il
this depar,men Mt is unrivaled.
The lecturer described aud named the vari
Gus plains, and peaks, and billy ranges, al
though he bad just returned from an explor