THE BOOK OF THE LANTERN. O 



the invention. E marks the handle and the opening (or 

 window) ; C the chimney or fnnnel." 



It is worthy of note that Sir David Brewster, in his 

 " Natural Magic," qnotes the incantation scene from 

 Cellini at length, and states his conviction that the 

 appearances were brought about by optical apparatus, 

 although he admits that little was known of the action of 

 mirrors and lenses nntil the time of Kircher. 



It is obvious, however, that such primitive instruments 

 were of the crudest kind, and can only be regarded as 

 interesting curiosities. Up to within quite recent times 

 lanterns for projection held about the same relation to the 

 modern instrument as does the bone needle of the cave 

 men to the sewing machine. Like most instruments of 

 precision, the optical lantern is the outcome of many years 

 of patient thought and labour, and is the result of the 

 working of many minds. No individual can be credited 

 with its invention or discovery. The crude idea is, as we 

 have seen, to be found in Kircher's book, and one improve- 

 ment has been suggested here, and another there, until we 

 have before us a very perfect optical appliance. 



The gradual advance in the instrument very naturally 

 follows the introduction of improved illuminants for more 

 general purposes. The oil lamp was superseded by the 

 argand gas-burner, and this was in its turn supplanted by 

 the whiter and better light afforded by mineral oil, while 

 before this, for the better kind of lanterns, Lieutenant 

 Drummond's brilliant limelight was quickly adopted as the 

 best for the purpose. This, too, may possibly, in the near 

 future, give way to the still more brilliant electric arc 



