The Portland daily press., 1898-03-04
PROF. MORSE ON THE DAGUERREo-
TYPE.
How the Discovery Was Regarded Sixty
Years Ago.

How the Discovery Was Regarded Sixty
Years Ago.
The following is an extract from pri-
vate letter of Professor S. T. b. Morse
to the editor of the New York Observer,
dated Paris, March 8, 1889:
''You have perhaps heard of the daguer-
reotype, SO called. from the discoverer, M
Daguerre? 1t Is one of the most beauti-
fulidiscoyeries of the age. I don't know
II you remember some experiments of
mine in New Haven, many years ago,
when had my painting-room next to
Professor Silliman's, experiments to as
certain il 1t were possible to fix. the. image
of the oamera obscura. I was able to pro
duce different degrees of shade on paper
dipped into solution of nitrate. OF silver,
by means of different degrees of light;
but finding that light produced dark, and
dark light, I presumed the production of
a true image to be impracticable and
gave up the attempt. M. Daguerre has
realized in the most exquisite manner
this idea.
"a few days ago addressed note to
NJ d. requesting, as a stranger. the favor
to see his results, and inviting him in
return to see my telegraph. was polite
ly invited tossee them under these oircum-
stances, for he had determined not to
show them again, until the chambers had
passed definitely on the proposition for
the government to purchase the secret of
the discovery and makesit public. The
day before yesterday, the 9TH, / .called on
M. Daguerre, at his rooms in the
Dorama, to see these admirable results.
s'They are produced ON metallic sur
face, the principal pieces about seven
inches by five, and they resemble aqua
tint engrayings, for they are in simple
chiara oscura, and not in colors. But the
exquisiteIninuteness of the delineation
cannot be conceived. No painting or
engraving ever approached 1t. For exam
Pile: In view up the street, distant
sign would be perceived, and the eye
could just discern that there were lines of
letters upon it, but so minute as not to
be read with the naked eye. By assis-
tance of powerful lens, which magnitied
fifty times, applied to the delineation.
every letter was clearly. and distinctly
legible, and SO also were the minutest
breaks and lines in the walls Of the build
ings and the pavements OF the street
The effect of the lens upon the picture was
in a great degree like that of the telescope
in nature.
'sObjects moving are not impressed.
The Boulevard, SO con stantly filled with
a moving throng of pedestrians land car
riages, was perfectly solitary, except an
individual who was having his boots
brushed. His feet were compelled, OF
course, to be stationary for some time,
one being on the box of the boot. black,
and the other on the ground. Conse-
quently, his boots and legs are we'll de-
fined, but he is without body or head be-
cause these were in motion.
1.-THE Impressions of interior views are
Rembrandt perfected. One sof NJ. D. s
plates Is an impression OF spider. The
spider was not bigger than the head Of a
the solar microscope to the size of the
palm of the hand, having been impressed
on the plate and examined through lens
was further magnified, and showed min
uteness of organization hitherto not seen
to exist You perceive how this discov-
cry is, therefore, about to- open a new
field Of research in the depths of micro
scopio nature. We are soon to see If the
minute has discoverable limits. The
naturalist is to have new kingdom to
explore, as much beyond the microscope
as the microscope Is beyond the naked
eye.
and have unhappily to give melan-
cho]y close to my account Of this ingen..
ious discovery. NJ. Daguerre appointed
yesterday at noon TO sec my telegraph
He came and passed more than an hour
with NE, expressing himself highly graft
fed at its operation. But while he was
thus employed, the great building of the
Diorama, with his own house, all his
beautiful works. his valuable, notes and
papers, the labors OF years of experiment,
were, unknown to him. at that moment
becoming the prey of the flames. His
secret indeed Is still safe with him; but
the steps of his progress in the discovery
and his valuable researches in science are
lost to the scientific world. learn that
the Diorama was insured, but to what
extent know not. ] am sure all friends
of science and improvement will unite in
expressing the deepest sympathy in M.
Daguerre's loss and the sincere hope that
such liberal sum will be awarded him by
his government as shall enable him In
6OlDe ueGFe0, bs iohSt, " IOoosol AoAA
his loss
In the same vessel which brought the
above letter, the writer himself arrived.
From him, Gays the Observer, some ad,
ditional information was given us respect
ing this very interesting discovery, which
we cannot at present communicate. We
have only room to say that we are ever
more impressed with the value of the In
vention as means of procuring, without
labor or expense, perfect and satisfactory
panoramas of sall the most interesting
places and scenery on the globe, and. i
we apprehend it's power correctly, perfec'
concentrations Of human countenance
than with it's power to reveal the secrets
Of microscopic nature" With what de
light.will the eye dwell on the panoramai
Of Jerusalem, 1hebes, Constantinople
Rome and other cities of the Old Wrld
deIineated with the unerring fidelity 20
the Daguerreotype? With what interes
distinguished men Of all countries
drawn, not with man S feeble, false ant
dattering pencil, but with the power anf
truth of light from heaven? 1t may no,