The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-10-20

,rou 81 any ordinary solid substance The
n,ic,e raintcd with II Is first given coat
~ ! chemical mixture which retains the
,.hosnl.orcsnent properties o. the luminous
saini. al which three or four coats are
thes, nrpii4d. Before commencing 10 dif-
fnse lIehf The PAINT must be exposed 10
s,,pIlphf for few moments. The princi-
MI t.s,ou which Il Is supposed 10 act Is this:
'rhe solar rays are supposed to dlsintegrate
~. a;strrb moro or less. according 20 the
time far n hich II Is exposed, the molecules
Of the exterior surface, which gives on ~
once ,ays Of light. When 1t is taken into
The dark the surface gradually returns 70
its normal condition; hence the hglt or
mlnisI,es during the night, becoming iainter
and fainter. though still perceptlbie JUST De-
fore daylight. ,,,
The firsf experiment was the lowering
~ !, I,rs,e canvas stretched on framework
end entered with the luminous psint
sbrcuwh hafclIway in the ceiling down
into fi,e perfectly dark room, which II I'M
medlately filed with a peculiar purphsn
Ucht. At first sight the impression given
was n peculiarly weird and CHASTITY one, D'A
as the exc became accustomed 10 II, IL DC
came even agreeable.
Then large pane Of glass was placed III
the hatchway and covered so az to exclude
All natural light. This threw down rays OF
lirht iy which the walls Of the room ana
the various articles I'm II were family indi,
Gated. Then the hatchway was removed
and tbe light allowed TO enter through the
,rlass. By this means the room was almost
brilliantly lighted. ~ the paint Is q remark
allie conductor Of natural light, or rather
tbe light has the effect Of exciting con-
tinually the phosphorescence OF the pant
Next plaster bust Illuminated by the
preparation was taken into the light LOT
moment and brought into the room. Inc
outline was quite distinct, and there were
very natural shadows beneath the chin OF
the head, and near the principal features,
which gave il almost the appearance OF lie.
Then Il was exposed to the light again for
n longer time, and upon all sides equally.
After this is appearance in the dark was
remarkably vivid, and the head stood out
IN bold relief, like that OF fine cameo,
while nothing else in the room could DC
seen.
The effect OF such an apparition upon q
burglar, or upon stranger unaccustoned
TO ANYTHING OF the kind, coming upon o
bust or statue treated in this way IN dark
room, would be horriiying. The spiritual
lists might use the paint in their inyocations
and materializations OF departed spirits in
n highly startling manner. Next small ell
eyator covered with sliding box was low
cred into the room, and groupof statuary
nearly OF life size was exposed to view. Inc
surface exposed was so large, however,
that The form was less clearly defined than
that Of the bust, on account OF the hght dli-
fused through the apartment.
IL has been suggested that the paint be
used on posts along the sides OF roads, on
life and moving i)uOys, and in the interior
of powder-magazines, collieries, or wher-
ever il is unsafe to carry III ordinary light.
For out-of-door uses, however, the reporter
was informed that il was OF no great value,
as the diffusion of light is so general, even
at night, except on rare occasions, that the
paint would have no effect. For domestic
use it may be applied to number OF small
articles with convenient results. For match
safes il is useful as indicating their pre-
else location. Watch faces painted with II
enable the wearcr TO see the time in the
dark. In sick-rOoms it might be used with
advantage from above, as in the second eX-
pertinent mentioned. 1t is actually being
in pilot-houses to illuminate the
and in the steamers Bristol and
TO show the indicator, which
gives the position of the helm. When used
in the pilot-houSe in this way, TO the cXclu-
sion Of ordinary light, much better look
out can be had Ne1C York Mail.