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JANUARY 9, 1885.J THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS. 31 cord the lamp is suspended “ bird-cage fashion ” to a pulley in the ceiling over the developing sink. The advantages of such a lamp can be seen at a glance ; the light is shaded from the eyes, and is reflected by the bright tin down on to the work, thus making the develop ment more comfortable. FRED, W. Cheetham. LANTERN SLIDES AT THE EXHIBITION. Sin,—Mr. Donkin’s explanations as to Mr. Ga’e’s slides are far from satisfactory to me. Others may think that the excuse offered for not placing Mr. Gale’s slides upon the table is a fair one ; but I do not. It is specious, but untenable. One would have thought that from the experience of the previous year the Society would have stipulated that the slides for exhibition should be arranged in frames. This, with ordinary care, would have have allowed of their being removed from the frames for the purpose of exhi bition on the screen, and being restored to their frames without any risk of theft. That even this very ordinary care was wanting in the organization of the Society is exemplified by the fact that my frame of slides was muti lated by the disappearance of one slide and the breakage of another the Very first time they were exhibited. Mr. Donkin is, however, perfectly aware, from the official letters which I have written to his Society, that my charges against the Society of illegal action go very much beyond either the keeping Mr. Gale’s slides out of the catalogues, or the still more serious—what shall I call it for politeness’ sake?—error of judgment in not showing them on the table. Custom demands that all goods sent for competition be not only entered in the official catalogues, but exhibited to public view. Custom not only makes law, but over-rules any law which apparently justifies a course opposed to custom. - 1 contend that the Society have, by their own action, disqualified Mr. Gale’s slides, and insist that on these grounds alone the award must be quashed; nor will I rest until either it is quashed or their action is vindicated. It was not competent for the council to decide that the hanging committee were justified in acceding to Mr. Gale’s request that the slides should be kept in charge of the Secretary, and they have most completely stultified them selves by so doing. But why does Mr. Donkin not reply to my other and graver charges? First, why were the slides not submitted to the award of the judges at the proper time—as demanded by custom and common sense—before the opening of the Exhibition? Secondly, is it true, as I have stated, and again affirm, that these particular slides were never seen by the whole of the judges ?—Yours, &c., - GEORGE Smith. Proceedings of Sorieties. South London PHOTOGRAPHIC Society. The annual lantern meeting of this Society took place on Thurs day evening, the 1st inst., at the House of the Society of Arts, John Street, Adelphi. The large hall was filled with the members and their friends, and it was noticeable that a greater proportion of ladies were present than on former occasions. The chair was occupied by the President, Mr. W. Ackland. The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, expressed his pleasure at seeing such a large meeting to witness the display of lantern slides sent in by the members. His fears were that more slides had arrived than they could possibly get through with ; certainly there was sufficient to occupy a pleasant even ing in viewing objects of interest on the screen. Some of the transparencies, he said, were very fine indeed, and many were as good as could be met with anywhere. Mr. Bridge was prepared to enliven the proceedings with a little music. He thanked the members for attending in such force, and hoped they would enjoy the entertainment. Mr. F. A. Bridge (Hon. Sec. and Treasurer) said the majority of slides to be shown he had not seen before that evening, and hoped the audience would forgive him if there was any error in the description. The list of exhibitors comprised the names of Messrs. W. M. Ayres, F. Beasley, Jun., W. Cobb and Son, J. 0. Cohen, Hugh F. McConnelly, A. Cowan, E. Dunmore, J. Gale, F. Howard, C. J. Hussey, Junr., A. King, J. Nesbit, A. Pilkington, C. Poirson, Poulton and Son, G. Smith, J. B. B. Wellington, W. Wheeler, Dr. T. Charters White, C. Ray Woods, Wratten and Wainwright, and F. York and Sons. Mr. Davenport, assisted by Messrs. York and Hussey, manipu lated the lantern, which gave a disc about twenty-two feet in diameter; Mr. Bridge officiating at the desk. They commenced with a collodio-bromide series, made by Mr. Nesbit from Mr. H. T. McConnelly’s negatives ; these were followed by Mr. J. B. B. Wellington’s gelatino-bromide series of Burnham Beeches, the varied colours of which proved interesting. Mr. Dunmore’s series comprised collodio-bromide and gelatino-chloride ; some of the subjects were remarkably picturesque, and elicited much praise. Mr. Nesbit’s series on collodio-bromide from gelatine negatives were very fine, especially his “ Latimer Oak,” High Barnet. Mr. Cowan’s series illustrated variety of colour obtainable with gelatino-chloride. Mr. Howard’s wet collodion series were well received ; the “ Weary Flock in Summer Heat,” and “ The Nave, Wells Cathedral,” being especially fine. Mr. King’s trans parencies and negatives were on gelatino-bromide plates, and Mr. Cohen’s Norwegian scenery was very interesting. Mr. Smith’s Woodbury series of Altcazar, from Mr. Good’s negatives, were much applauded. The fact of the negatives narrowly escaping destruction in the recent earthquake added a still greater interest. Messrs. Cobb exhibited several instantaneous street views of London, and Messrs. York two series illustrating their subjects “ The Lifeboat ” and “ Christmas Carols,” the readings of which were effectively rendered by Mr. Bridge. Mr. Hussey’s slides, although excellent as photographs, were somewhat marred by colouring. In Mr. Pilkington’s series, “ The Swans at Snares- brook ” obtained much applause. The collection of microscopic slides exhibited by Dr. White Were explained by that gentleman, after which followed a mis cellaneous series by Messrs. Wheeler, Ayres, and Gale ; the latter gentleman’s “ Elms’ Grateful Shade,” and " Cattle at Eventide,” were much admired. Mr. Beasley’s “ Clouds and Sea,” Wratten and Wainwright’s “ University Boat Race,” and Mr. Woods’ “ Swiss Views,” were all applauded. Over three hundred slides having passed through the lantern, and there being nearly a hundred more to show, it was decided, considering the lateness of the hour, to bring the entertainment to a close. During the evening Messrs. Bridge and Page favoured the company with music. The usual votes of thanks were passed, and it was announced that on Thursday, February 5th, Messrs. Morgan and Kidd will demonstrate the method of working their new paper for printing positives ; and March 5th, Mr. Shadbolt will read a paper on “ Experiences in Balloon Photography.” Lonton and Provincial Photographic Association. The usual weekly meeting was held on Thursday, the 1st inst., Mr. S. C. Salmon in the chair. A demonstration was given of the “ patent polychrome ” pro cess of colouring photographs, by a representative of Mr. W. B. Anderson, the patentee. It was claimed that the process rendered the print more permanent, and artistic effects could be obtained with comparatively little labour by anyone possessing a little taste. An ordinary albumen print was first mounted on an opal plate with a solution of gelatine, and allowed to dry ; the plate was then heated, and bees’-wax rubbed over the sur face of the print until it became quite transparent, the super fluous wax rubbed off, and, when cool, the print was polished with a silk handkerchief or other suitable material; it was then ready for being painted in oil colours. From this stage the pic ture, a cabinet-sized portrait, being timed, was finished iu twenty minutes. It was stated that by rendering the surface of the print quite smooth with the wax previous to the application of the colours, that they would not be absorbed, but would remain and dry on the surface and retain their brilliancy. Sir. W. H. PRESTWICH drew attention to the particulars given
