Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-01-07
Scientific.

PHorooRAPHY OF TIE INvIsIBLE.-The
grand moral idea which science contin-
ually seeks to impress upon her votaries
is, humility of mind that inestlmaoie
virtue whence spring the noblest plea
sures of the soul. But how rare it is to
find this beautiful quality, even IN per-
sons of culture and learning ] The great
doctors looked upon Calico with con-
tempt, confined him in prison as dam
gerous man, and subjected him to the
most ignominlous treatment, simply
because he presented, for their accept
ance, the light from new idea, which
their dull perceptions were unable to
appreciate. He affirmed that the sun
did not really rise or set that 1t was
the rotation of the earth that brought
day and night alternately upon the
earth. But the doctors, like many ln
our day, proud in their own concelt oi
knowledge, knew better. The scrip
lures tell us" they said, ''of the rising
and the setting sun; therefore 1t moves
our own eyes assure us of the fact the
diurnal experience of mankind confirms
the truth. Your doctrine, Calico, Is
false and dangerous.
1t is in this style that some persons,
very knowing in their own esteem, rea.
son upon certain subjects. Take "spIrii
photography" for an example. They
allege that spirits are invisible that an
invisible thing cannot be photographed
therefore the so-called spirit photo
graphs are base impostures.
the is not our purpose to dissent from
1t conclusion here assumed but We
take exception to the premises, which
are not in agreement with science.
Photographs of some objects that are
invisible to the human eye may un'
doubtedly be produced. The spectrum
of solar light is an example, portions oi
which, totally invisible to the eye, are
brought out upon the photographer
plate and their presence is also de
monstrated by other instruments.
One of the most successful method:
of producing "spirit" photographs is t.
place, in front of the sensitive plate
within the plate shield, a clear sheet o.
glass having nothing upon it except {
thin positive of the "spirit" that Is tC
be produced on the negative. The por
trait of the sitter is taken II the usua
manner. The light wbich enters the
camera lens prints the sitter and alst
the "spirit" which is OH the thin posi-
tive upon the negative. This is a yer,
convenient method, as it requires NJ
manipulations likely to be detected
and is, we think, the favorite plan prac
ticed by the best spirit photographers
Prints made in this manner pass curren
among the believers for genuine ghost
of the departed, directly descende'
from heaven.
But more new, interesting, and sci
entifc method of producing "spirit
photographs, is as follows /: the plan
background screen, before which tn
sitter is placed III order to have hi
portrait taken, is to be painted before
hand with the form of the desire,
spirit" the paint being composed o
some fuorescent substance, such as
solution of sulphate of quinine. Whel
this painting dries on the screen, it j
invisible to the eye; but it sends on
rays that have power to impress tn
photo plate and thus the image of tn
person together with the quinine ghos
are simultaneously developed upon tn
negative. This is very beautiful ant
remarkable method.-Scieatifc Azneri
oUn