44 SCIOPTICON MANUAL. 



vigor. It is better to allow the axle of the dissolvcr to 

 turn at once, flashing the change upon the disk. 



Much use can be made of this expedient, as it is so 

 easily effected in the apparatus represented. A dupli- 

 cate picture placed in R and L in reverse order, the 

 dissolver being changed back and forth with a sudden 

 movement, will show an " about face " as of a person 

 bowing to the company, a lion uneasy in his cage, &c. 



Lightnings may thus be made to flash upon scenery, 

 especially when the view is darkened somewhat by 

 turning down its light a little, giving the appearance of 

 a rising tempest. 



Discretion and good taste should be observed in ar- 

 ranging the slides for an exhibition, so as not to mar 

 beauty with caricature, or sacred scenes with what is 

 ridiculous ; yet it is well to avoid monotony, for "variety 

 is the spice of life." 



Dissolving views, it must be confessed, are usually 

 treated in a somewhat florid style by opticians, so it 

 may be safe to make some abatement in anticipating the 

 effects, especially of high-priced mechanical slides, lest 

 when they chance to fall below the " Eoyal Polytechnic 

 Institute in London," there should be a feeling of dis- 

 appointment. 



In the Sciopticon enterprise, it has been kept steadily 

 in mind, to produce beautiful and useful results by the 

 simplest means; and the desire is felt, not to make as 

 large sales as possible, but to have every purchaser 

 realize his highest expectations. 



THE PHANTASMAGORIA. 



To produce this effect, the operator should be on one 

 side of the wet screen, and the spectators on the other. 



