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APRIL 6, 1883.] THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS. 217 ture of the studio had been raised by a large stove, which had been kept burning for several hours, and the conse quence was one of the barrels burst—whether from a flaw in the glass, or from the stopper becoming fixed, could not be ascertained. The studio and its contents were speedily destroyed ; and no doubt insurance offices regarded the fire as pointing a very salutary moral. But the circum stances were very exceptional, and were not likely to occur in connection with any ordinary studio. Our friend Mr. J. T. Taylor, in writing of Walzl’s studio, in Baltimore, in the Photographic Times, says that the principal work undertaken is cabinet pictures, “ for which the low price of $3 a dozen (a dollar is 4s. 2d.), only is charged, this reduction from regular rates having been made in connection with the introduction of gelatine dry plates. As might have been expected, this reduction in the prices has led to strong antagonism on the part of other photographers." Of course, if a photographer decides upon lowering his charges, any excuse will serve ; but few will agree with Mr. Walzl that gelatine plates are so much less expensive than collodion films. The examination of photographers’ assistants in Paris, under the auspices of the Chambre Syndicale de la Photo- graphie, has been concluded, and its results made known. The three examiners were MM. Davanne, Bardy, and Vidal, and a “ brevet de capacite ’’ was accorded in eight instances. Since photographers of all nationalities come to England for work, it may be convenient to record in our columns the names of these certificated assistants. Taken alpha betically, they are: MM. J. Bornstein, A. E. Chevalley, J. Gineste, P. Gouffe, A. Fisch, A. Jolly, C. Ruckert, and F. Valkman. To practise a little deception in order to secure a person’s portrait is not unknown in the realms of photo graphy ; but in painting, the thing is sufficiently rare to make a note of. In the memoir of Lord Laurence, we are told that his mother, although desirous of having a por trait of every member of her family, was very obstinate about sitting herself, and, indeed, absolutely refused to do so. But when Miss Laurence gave sittings to the artist, she objected, it seems, to being alone, and the consequence was that her mother bore her company ; when the por trait was finished, however, to Mrs. Laurence’s surprise, it was that of herself, instead of her child. What is the best way of packing dry plates in a box ? One plan is to put the plates in pairs, face to face, with a sheet of tissue paper between ; and another is to separate the faces with strips of cardboard. Mr. Cowan considers it a sine qua non that plates should rest in a box, all facing one way, films being downwards, as this position is the most convenient when filling dark slides ; no mistake can then occur, even if you have to transfer from box to dark slide in pitchy darkness. To save as much space as possi ble, he does not employ two strips of cardboard, one at each end, to separate the plates, but only one strip, first at one end, then at the other. Thus, in packing, a strip of card is first laid at the right hand end of the box, and a plate (film downwards) rested upon it; then a strip of card is placed at the left band of the box, and another plate put down upon that; and so the filling of the box goes on, the plates being divided from one another by a simple strip of card, which is placed alternately at one end or other. One advantage of photography appears to be the facilities it offers for re-discoveries. Photographs in natural colours used on an average to form the subject of a sensational paragraph about once in six months; but the “discoverers” have long since given up “natural colours ” in disgust, and the “ diaphote ” now occupies a high place in their esteem. The principle of the diaphote is the development of photographic action at a distance by means of electricity. Becquerel demonstrated the possi bility of this many years ago; and Baine’s recording telegraph was really an application of the principle. The diaphote was suffered to remain undisturbed until 1880, when a Dr. Licks, of Pennsylvania, and a Professor Min chin (nationality unknown), kindly re-discovered it. No sooner, however, was their discovery made known, than Professor Graham Bell announced that he had already deposited a sealed patent for seeing by telegraphy, a state ment which caused the other claimants—Messrs. John Perry and W. C. Ayton—to declare that the discovery, if anybody’s, was theirs, as three years previously they had made experiments in a similar direction. The Graphic of last week points out that the superiority of wood-engraving in America is largely due to photo graphy. From the use of photography has sprung up a new style of engraving, the chief characteristics of which are minute finish and a marvellous reproduction of the artist’s style, even down to brush marks and chalk lines. To a master of the art of engraving like Mr. W. J. Linton (who, we may remark, in passing, has made America his home), this method is very objectionable, for the reason that the engraver is reduced to a mere mechanic. But, as the Graphic observes, it is a question of demand and supply; the public want good illustrations and in great quantities. Artists who can draw on wood are few in number; but, by the aid of photography, every artist is at once available, while his picture is often much improved when reduced by the photographer on the block. The science of newspaper writers is often very wonder ful. The New York Illustrated Times gravely remarks :— “ Professor Fox, practising with the albumenized paper of photographers, reached the conclusion that light cannot penetrate water to a greater depth than about 125 feet. More recently, however, some more sensitive plates have been exposed at a depth of 300 feet under water, and the traces of light were distinctly left on the plate.” The idea of employing albumenized paper as a test for the pene tration of light through water was carried out in one of the Swiss lakes many years ago, and has long been super seded.