Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1882-04-20
KALEIDOSCOPES
The Uses to Which they are Put by
Carpet Designers and Architects.

Carpet Designers ana Afchltects.
A plainly dressed, practical appearing man
entered the store of New York optician
recently, and asked the proprietor if he had
any fine kaleidoscopes. 1--WE have One," re-
piled the German attendant, "but that is a
large one, and has a strong lens attached
to it,
The intelligent examination the man gave
the instrument that was shown him. excited
the curiosity of a reporter who was standing
by, and when it was bought for $12 the re-
porter was still more surprised. AS the pur-
chaser left the store the reporter asked, DO
you often sell such expensive tOys?'
"No one buys such a kaleidoscope for
toy" replied the Optician. "Children's ka-
leidoscopes seldom cost over a dollar, and
plenty are to be had for 25 and so cents.
"Then why should this have cost so much?
Is kaleidoscope of any practical use?'
"Oh yes" he replied. Many are used for
industrial drawing That man was carpet
designer, and wanted fine instrument. That
was a beautiful one. The colors were all
given by little bottles or tubes filled with
colored liquids Besides it had great vari-
ETY. of color material in it-bits of lace, gums
and leaves, and small figures for use in
figure grouping. They are expensive instru-
ments to make and that one was imported"
Are they not manufactured in this coun-
try"
"Only the common ones, which are OF no
use for nice work. All fine Kaleidoscope are
made in Germany"
How are they used p
Usually as foundation or suggestion in
making patterns. They not only give the
outline of design, but suggest colOring, and
with that lens attached to it, carpet de-
signer can see the the whole effect when ar
ranging and grouping his patterns"
"Are they used for any other purpose p
They are used in all sorts of designing.
Architects sometimes take designs from
them for architectural ornaments. A kaleid-
oscOpe saves a great deal of preliminary and
purely mechanical labor. An architect can
turn kaleidoscope until he finds a design
that suits his purpose, and then copy it
photographically with a camera lucida, or by
the eye, if he wishes to vary it a little. The
centre pieces for ceilings made of plaster of
Paris are so designed, but the greatest use of
the kaleidoscope is in the manufacture OF
round stained glass windows"
"This is the way fine windows are design
ed, is it?'
"Well, suppose a mere copy OF kaleidO
scOpic design would not be considered very
artistic work, but it forms very good basis
for an artist to work upon The instrument
creates in a single hour what loco artists
could not invent in the course OF year, and
with as much precision as rapdity.
"You spoke of that instrument having
figures for figure drawing. How are they
used?" ...-.
"When cheap frescoes were i'll fashion the
figure plates of kaleidscopes were much
used by wall decorators, but not many OF
them are sold now. Figures are usually put
in kaleidoscopes where the inclination of the
mirror does not exceed 800, so that the re-
flected design will be compact. A new effect
in grouping is often got as the figure rises
out of the formal part of the pattern and
connects itself with singular ease and grace
with the reflected figures on each side"
II should think the idea of the kaleidO-
scope in arranging colors might be adapted SO
as to be of use to artists. Have you any
other instrument that improves upon 1t or
exhibits combinations Of color?"
"No. believe French Jesuit, Faith
er Castel, tried to invent such an instru-
ment, but he never succeeded. He was an
impractical optician, and had romantic
dream of an ocular harpischord that
would give vision of light and color.
He made sort of instrument or cOntrivance
to be attached in box or frame to the harp
sichOrd, which was then i'll common use. The
idea of the ocular hapsichord' was that
when certain key was struck color re-
lated to that sound would be exhibited to
the eve. Castel thought that as he played
piece of music the eye at the same instant
would be delighted with a harmony OF ex-
quisite color. But his dream proved CHI
merical. No good ever came OF his attempts,
unless possibly, Castel's failure suggested the
idea of the kaleidoscope to its inventor.