Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-06-11
BLENDED FACES.
PORTRAITS BY THE METHODS OF
COMPOSITE PHOTOGRAPHY.
Something. Novel and Fascinating-Iike'
at a Man Who Exists Whom
So Man Ever Saw--The
Average of Faces"



The scientific photo grapherS have accom-
piishe a W nierful thing. They have sue
ceedel ia producing an actual portrait Of
the man who exist; and whom no man ever
saw.
The assertion is not as fanciful as it seems.
In the last issue If Science appear four por
traits illustrating what has been accom-
pliShei The methods of composite
photography, devised originally by Francis
Gaeton, is simply this: Given a num-
Der OF men or women, shadowy
photographs OF each are taken, and from all
these shadows blended. Is produced n face. 1t
Is a face II no one Of those who sat but it is
the face of a human being whose counten-
ance expresses all their traits. This Is the
theory OF the photographer. The face pro-
duCed bears cut the idea Ii Is clearly-de
fined countenance with an expression Of its
own. IL is something striking and fascinat-
ing
In one of the photographs printed twelve
mathematicilns have their faces blended IN
a new countenance. Ii is the typical math-
ematician. Sixteen naturaliSts' faces form
one those OF thirty-one painters another.
There is wonderful resemblance between
the two faces thus produced. Nturalists
and painter alike are students of form and
color AMI outline. 1t j. a dew face produced
by this queer process. No one Of he orig
inal faces i reproduced The remarkable
device eliminates that source-so FAR as It
appears IN the facet 50 much OF our hap
pine>s and unhappiness. 1.-THE personal equa-
ton Like the body after death. IT dlSaI-
pears. hut still exists though unlike the
body after :eath, A is not dissipatoi through
all nature but is condensed into one entity,
a visible thing.
The striking thing about these composite
faces Is that the blendin. seems to bring out
in bold relief of expression the dominant
trait of the cInS> The one prevailing idea
of the group shows in the combined face
strongly. L. suggests vast possibilities
from the discovery Of the photographers.
The face shows the nature Of a class, it,
strength and weakness, it, degree Of kindli-
ness and dignity its faults and follies. IL
is the reflection of the soul Of tina group.
What studies might lie made on this idea,
what social AMI POLITICAL reforms suggested
by its pursuit, and how curious and inter.
eSting wcul b. the result Of some combina-
tions'
II is the fact that the central idea 30 pro
trude> itself in the developed couutenauce
which makes the experiment attractive Il
a score of prizs- fiS hters to secure this re-
sultant conscious brute. u min,le the faces
of a city's ward politicians and get the face
Of n creature 80 crafty. and covetouS. and
unScrupulOuS a to methods that 1t would BE-
alarming Wuuli the faces Of do zen
clerSymen reveal one with a kindly eve for
the sisters and "A look betokeulnE that a
-callT would h. fel; for that place offering
the largest salary! AMI what sort II = face
would the combination of those 81 dozsn
leading editors proiuce'
There is n charm about the ilea What q
face could be constructed from a group
OF thu money makers. the men who
steal franchise, and live ga indirec;
taxation Of thu public! How the
mark would come cut in that ccuntenance.
how foxy would become the nose ~ which
in the individual we scarcely note the dishy,
side-long inientation And might Be
made experiments with hunirei types.
Ferhap, Is a thou sand tests. beniing the
facrs OF thoss with at least clean records, a
picture could be produced which would tell
a better story. which would b. recognized
without debate as belonging e. the ideal
man: strong. with fierce bat restrained pas
>ionS, hut kind and wise. Unfortunately
that man in the flesh could never he repro
duced Oar system Of blending blood in
real life would not allow the ages upon ages
Of requisite stirpiculture.
OF coGrSs these are but fancies. Yet in
Gaeton's discovery there is probably the
germ NJ whist ", n result in thou ,aai pTac-
teal benefits The Average Of forms Is
frequsn; requisite Of the artist and the
naturalist use for the average Of faces
Will soon come