Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-15

THE VITASCOPE
scope was not the Wizard Lewellyn, but
Washington man. the fact was not
generally credited, so prone Is puDhc
prejudice to look in the same direcuoii
for successive wonders, and least OF all
10 EXPECT them Of the home prophet
Nevertheless. it was a Washington man
who conceived, elaborated and perlecteu
the wonderful machine which bears ths
name Of the great Edison. lie phlloso-
phlcally held his peace when he hnlsheu
his model. and with rare business
sbrewdness associated his invention
with the name TO which we link all
rnodern wonders. He secured an invalua-
hla trademark. and the ready attention
of the public and ready riches Is his Ie-
suit" ,,r
The Wits scope was invented by Thomas
Armat of the well-known firm Of Daniel
a Armat. of + street. Mr.. Armats weak
point It was generally supposed, was
syh,,rban subdivision or an urban corner
lot IT is now revealed that he can TAX
confines and kilometers, hydrostatics ana
rbeostats like a native Of the sparely-in-
habited land where the practical magma
ton of tho scientist dwells.
Mr.. Armat conceived the notion OF the
yitascope from the kaleidoscope. His I'M
provement needs no explanation; II has
already been seen by ali New YORK ana
half of Washington, and so familiar ere
its results that a description OF the realis-
tic antics of the yivihed lights and
shadows thrown on the screen would
be much like describing man TO him.
self.
The most interesting thing in connection
with the vitascoDe, after YOU have seen
the screen display. Is 20 see the ms -
ment itself. People sit in front with
popping eyes and gaping mouths in costa
| tic wonder, and their thoughts pierce
| the white wall Of linen in a curious desire
to see the vitascope itself. Some curious
speculations about its construction are
whispered about the theatre; many are
the vain appeals TO the management for
a private view Of behind the scenes"
THE MYSTERIOUS BOX.
But the people in front are all wrong.
| They might search the stage In every
! corner for the vitascope in vain. It's not
there. The magic rays which spread
upon the screen steal from a piercing
| brilliant eye in the far corner OF the bal
cony. There at the top and very back is
mysterious box, much Ike the wood
shed at the back Of your lot. II is pad
locked without and bolted within, and all
! the communication which the occupant
has with the outside world IS little hole
about the size of a coffee-cup, TO send
the rays through, and a square 'peeper'"
10 which stage.
Mr.. Armat consented 10 the writer ac-
companying him to the mysterious box
the other afternoon. and the exhibition
at this end Of the theatre was quite as
| interesting as at the other
The yitascoDe TO the unscientihc mind
is an inexplicable affair. 1t is very big.
very simple. very exquisite In mechanical
workmanship. and very mysterious. AT
the Bijou there are, in reality, two vita
scopes. for while one is displaying its
picture, the attendant equips the other,
and thus saves time and permits the
performance TO run with smoothness.
What one sees in the shed-like incloJ
sure are two big iron supports, which
resemble the supports of piece Of heavy
machinery. On these IS mounted the
wonderful contrivance which has aston
ished the country as no other invention
since the telephone. The vitascope pro-
per consists of a small lens, such as Is
used in an ordinary camera. This lens is
nearest the solitary eye which peeps out
over the heads OF the audience and winks
so wonderfully on the screen. Right be-