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THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS. April 3, 1891.] 267 photographs of Rigel with certain lines tripled, and it becomes a curious subject of speculation how far they will advance in this direction if the projected railway should pass underneath the building. Perhaps vibra tion from some cause not suspected gave rise to Mr. Fowler’s double effect. The Stereoscopic Company has again paid a five per cent, dividend—not a phenomenal rate of interest on money invested, but, according to Mr. Howard J. Kennard, the chairman of the annual meeting held last week, quite an average one. It is satisfactory to note this, and that the Company’s new premises are likely to see an increase in the business. The lift which takes the sitters to the studio has had an exceedingly good effect—a result which is not surprising, as many people, old persons especially, regard the task of mounting four or five flights of stairs an insuperable obstacle. Mr. Kennard says that the new building of the Com pany, its fittings, decorations, and arrangements, make up “the finest photographic establishment in the world.” The necktie camera has received notice at the hands of the Societe Francaise Photographic, a paper on M. Block’s invention having been read at the last meeting by M. Londe. M. Londe hints at a possible terror in this necktie. He says it has been the reproach of the amateur that he has committed a host of indiscretions with his detective apparatus. With the photo-cravate it will be worse, as it will be difficult for the most astute to avoid being caught. As, however, the lens is fixed in the centre of the head of a scarf pin, the only way will be to avoid those persons who wear suspicious looking cravats of this kind. The commencement of the photographic tourist season is foreshadowed by an announcement made at the last meeting of the Socicte Francaiso Photographie, that an enterprising firm had placed at the disposal of the Society labels for attachment to photographic baggage, so as to protect it from the too curious ex amination of the Custom House officer. The notices contained on these labels are printed in all languages, and all one has to do is to stick them on the place reserved on the sheet of red paper with the black star, which is the design approved by the International Photographic Congress. We presume that such labels are procurable at London photographic establishments; if not, they should be, as their use will save the tourist much trouble. If travellers are wise, how ever, they will not use their cameras in France. It is quite impossible to know when you are infringing a military regulation. A visit to the popular places of resort where the itinerant photographer once did most abound discloses the fact that this once popular individual has become Very scarce. What may be the reason we cannot say. Perhaps the race is dying out simply for want of renewal from the outside ; or it may be that the public no longer care for the pleasures of the ferrotype. In spite of the increase of the number of amateur photo graphers who are now to be found in almost every class of society, we do not think that the peripatetic operator has suffered from the competition. But whatever the cause may be, the fact remains that the out-door photographic business has of late sadly diminished, and only those firms do a fair amount of trade who possess facilities for taking photographs by artificial illuminants. The novelty of this lends a little attraction, but here it stops, for those who look upon their photographs so taken are not disposed to make a second experiment. The result is frequently too awful. In America there seems to be a wider and more general interest taken in astronomy than in England. This is evidenced by the great number of visitors to the Lick Observatory during the summer months. It is open to the public every Saturday night, and, in spite of the great distance from the nearest town (San Jose, 26 miles), strings of coaches frequently bring up as many as two or three hundred visitors. We are afraid if a proposition were made that the Observa tory at Greenwich should be open to the public once a week, a cry of horror would go up from every official, to which the protest made by Sir Joseph Hooker when it was suggested that Kcw Gardens might be opened before one o’clock, would be insignificant indeed. Apparently, they manage these things better in America. which this star was made to appear as though it were of reproductive work, only an artistic form of repro double. Mr. Fowler’s paper, it will be recollected, was duction is admissible, such as engraving, etching read at the Royal Astronomical Society in November, lithography, and wood-engraving.” It will be noticed and Herr Vogel’s communication was placed before the that photography is conspicuous by its absence. As Society a few weeks ago M. Deslandres says that the instructions stand, they appear to mean that books a photograph was taken of this star on the same day illustrated by photographic reproductions from original and at the same hour as that on which Mr. Fowler’s drawings may be exhibited. Other works illustrated photograph was made, and that the line K was thin by photography are not admissible, because, according and single A Fellow of the Royal Astronomical to the inference of the wording, photography is not Society, commenting on the matter, says that the “an artistic form of reproduction.” Surely this Astronomical Department has, it is understood, achieved cannot be intended. The instructions issued by the Berlin Exhibition authorities in connection with contributions of illustrated books require a little explanation. The invitation to publishers of such works says: “ In the case of original Work, any kind of reproduction is allowed; in the case