The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-29
A BloGRAPH EXHIBITION.
Given Before Mechanical Engineers Association
Through The Courtesy Of Mr. Keith.

The Providence Association of Me-
chanical Engineers had most delight
full evening of photography in their
rooms in the Hodges building last night
and by the thoughtfulness and courtesy
picture machine, the American bio
graph, was on exhibition. A large
number of the members OF the Provi-
dence Camera club were also in at
tendance, and the entire affair took
the form of a reception to the friends of
the association, its president and the
past presidents.
There have only been three presi-
dents of the organization, exclusive of
George II. Smith, who is now in office.
These were Arthur A. Fuller, Luther
ID. Burlingame and William G. Wood
ward. The members brought a number
of fair guests with them and the room
had n most festive appearance. The af-
fair was Informal and opened with pi-
ano selections and selections on the
pianola, followed by banjo duets and
a selection by Treasurer Charles II.
Gabriel, with Mrs. Gabriel. Then came
series of pictures taken in England,
which are the property of the Camera
club. and these were followed by an
explanatory lecture on the biograph,
read by President Smith. -
After speaking of the method OF TAX
ing the pictures and the method of ex-
hibiting them on the screen, Mr.. Smith
said that the biograph may perhaps
best be described as the most nearly
perfect realization OF the possibilities
of motion photography and repIoduc-
tion. Providence justly may lay claim
TO being the birthplace OF motion pho
Biography. IL was in Providence in 1867
William T.. Lincoln invented what he
termed the zcotrope, a mechanical toy
still enjoying n large sale in this coun-
try and Europe. illustrating the scien-
tific fact that the human eye Is capa-
BILE OF receiving and recording only
given number OF impressions i'm n
given time. and that III individual pic
lures were presented i'm succession 20
the eye too rapidly for their individual
comprehension. the impression made on
the mind would be that OF single pic
ture.
Tntil recently the longest film ever
made I'm motion photography was that
OF n FIRE i'm Paris, in which hotel guests
were seen rescued by the pompiers'
ladders. this film being 60 feet in
length This record has now been sur
passed by the pictures showing the trip
across the Brooklyn bridge from New
York. the film In this case being 80
feet I'm legnth. containing 5400 distinct
and separate pictures, taken at the rate
OF 81 Der second. TnlS latter lS not
the record. for several films have been
made i'm which the pictures were taken
nj the rate Of trife over 90 per Sec
ond. The trip across the bridge was
made iu three minutes, or about one
half the usual rate Of speed ~ the
bridge cars. The views shown by the
biograph which was loaned by ". +.
Keith and taken from the evening per-
! formanCe OF Mr.. Keith's New theatre
for the occasion. included the Brook
lyn bridge and Paris hotel pictures.
with number of others Of military.
naval and domestic scenes. Several
We're explained by II. |. Dillenback of
Keith's theatre. and were received with
prolonged appalause.
This is the first time that the bio
graph has ever been exhibited at n
private gathering. and that the Asso-
citation OF Mechanical Engineers was
so honored Is entirely due TO MIR. v. +.
Keith's courtesy. and at the close Of the
exhibition a unanimous vote OF thanks
was extended 10 Mr.. Keith for his kind