NEW APPLICATIONS OF LIGHT. 37 



cession of sounds. An even more striking and, perhaps, 

 closer analogy is that of the phonograph, where the vi- 

 brations of the diaphragm are permanently registered 

 on a wax cylinder, which, at any future time, can be 

 made to set up the same vibrations of the air, and thus 

 reproduce the same succession of sounds, whether words 

 or musical notes. So, the rays of every color and tint 

 that fall upon the plate throw the deposited silver within 

 the film into minute strata which permanently reflect 

 light of the very same wave-length, and therefore of the 

 very same color as that which produced them. 



The effects are said to be most beautiful, the only 

 fault being that the colors are more brilliant than in 

 nature, just as they are when viewed in the camera itself. 

 This, however, may perhaps be remedied (if it requires 

 remedying) by the use of a slightly opaque varnish. 

 The comparatively little attention that has been given 

 to this beautiful and scientifically-perfect process, is no 

 doubt due to the fact that it is rather expensive, and that 

 the pictures cannot, at present, be multiplied rapidly. 

 But for that very reason it ought to be especially attract- 

 ive to amateurs, who would have the pleasure of obtain- 

 ing exquisite pictures which will not become common- 

 place by indefinite reproduction. 



The brief sketch of the rise and progress of pho- 

 tography now given illustrates the same fact which we 

 have already dwelt upon in the case of other discoveries. 

 This beautiful and wonderful art, which already plays 

 an important part in the daily life and enjoyment of all 

 civilized people, and which has extended the bounds of 

 human knowledge into the remotest depths of the starry 

 universe, is not an improvement of, or development 



