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344 THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS. [June 1, 1883. homely appearance, and earnest enthusiasm, will long be missed in London photographic gatherings. Switzerland is showing some energy is respect to photo graphic gatherings. An “ Allgemeiner Schweizerischen Gehilfenbund ” has been formed in Zurich, a society to which all assistants in Switzerland are eligible. Balloon-photography is now so much the order of the day that any contribution to balloon literature is welcome. Photographers desirous of attempting such work will learn much about aerial voyaging in the interesting little paper we publish to-day from the pen of Mr. Cecil Shadbolt, who, at any rate in this country, can claim to have taken the best balloon photograph. The patent recently taken out in the names of Captains Elsdale and Templar, for photo-balloon apparatus, to which we recently alluded in our patent column, has reference to free ascents, and is therefore unlike Mr. Woodbury’s plan, which consists in employing a tethered balloon. The latter’s ingenious plan, as our readers are aware, is to send up a small balloon with camera attached, which camera is manipulated by means of electric wires from the ground. Pour plates are arranged on the faces of a cube contained at the back of the camera, and this cube is revolved—to bring a fresh plate into position—also by means of an elec tric current from below. Captain Elsdale's patent deals also with small balloons, and is in accord with Mr. Woodbury’s in so far as no aeronaut is required. We believe the apparatus is intended especially for making reconnoissances of a beleaguered town. The camera, which works automatically—being set “ to expose " at some definite period after rising—is attached to a balloon, which floats over the enemy’s position, and descending, after its transit, falls again into the hands of the beleaguering force, who thus secure photographs of the fortified town. We hear that several trials have already been made by Captain Elsdale, who has secured some successful pictures by this clever and novel plan of working. “ The Twentieth Century,” announced to appear by Messrs. Brown, Barnes, and Bell, is likely to create a sensa tion if it but half fulfils the promises of its prospectus. Similar in general character to the Illustrated London Neios and the Graphic, it is to be illustrated throughout by photo-mechanical printing. The publication will not be for sale, but is intended to show what illustrated newspapers of the next century will be like. Portraits, instantaneous views, landscapes, and, indeed, every class of photograph, is to be represented in the pages of the forthcoming journal, which is to employ neither the draughtsman nor engraver on its staff. Already fifty appropriate subjects have been chosen for the first number ; there only remains now to publish it. We alluded some few weeks ago to the use of Platino- type photographs as pictorial advertisements by the North Western Kailway Company, and we now hear that the “Eastbourne Season Extension Committee” has autho rized an expenditure of nearly £200 for photographs. These will be exhibited in various places of public resort throughout the country. The photographic records of the barometer, thermometer, &c., produced at Kew, to which we have many times alluded in these columns, are to be put to a new use. Mr. G. M. Whipple, the energetic director of the Establishment, hopes to be able to read between the lines of these records, by obtaining average photographic readings, proceeding some what after the manner adopted by Mr. Francis Galton, in producing composite portraits. In fact, Mr. Galton’s plan of producing a portrait of an average individual from the photographs of many, has suggested the idea to the Director of Kew Observatory. So that it is not impossible we shall have photography not only recording definite facts in meteorology, but averaging them afterwards. “ Welsh hats lent to visitors,” we saw posted up last week in Aberystwyth, in a photographic window, as an incentive to come and be taken ; and very likely we should have responded to the invitation, only that we remembered, just in the nick of time, that “ hats ” do not belong to the cos tume of the un-fair sex in Wales, but are borne by their better-halves. The presents made to the newly-crowned Czar on Monday last took the form, in many cases, of photographic albums, which contained the features of subjects from all parts of his widely-spread domain. Mr. Ashman’s mock description of an American studio in “ American Photography ‘As it Was,’ ” which appeared in our issue of last week, recalls to our recollection a few of the advertisements which used to appear in the American journals five-and-thirty years ago. For instance, J. D. Wells, Daguerrean Artist, of Northampton, Mass., announces “likenesses taken by a skylight connected with a beautiful side-light.” Insley, of 311, Broadway, informs the public that “ this one new sky-light gallery is located on the second floor at the above number ; every real improvement is taken advantage of, and, aided by scientific and gentle manly assistants, we trust our pictures cannot bo excelled." S. J. Thompson, of Albany, New York, has “one of the best sky-lights in the United States.” “ A new and improved sky-light enables the proprietor of the Van Loan Gallery, Philadelphia, to take pictures at times when they cannot be had at other places.” The photographer in those days was very modest. He scarcely dared to call himself an artist, and was contented with being “ gentlemanly and scientific.” As for the modern refinement of “ studio,” it was not to be thought of, and to be the possessor of a “ sky-light ” was all he could dream of. Professor Boltzman has designed a plan for photographing the different vibrations of various sounds. Upon a round disk of thin metal is fixed perpendicularly a thin sheet of