Novel Dissolving Effects. 



Dissolving apparatus, from its earliest history, has been 

 observed to produce exceptionally curious effects when cer- 

 tain figures dissolve into or emerge from strikingly sug- 

 gestive surroundings. 



This phenomenon is now quite the rage among exhibitors. 

 It is rare to find any who do not claim the originality of 

 the idea, but Mr. John Q. Maynard seems the first to make 

 it a prominent feature in his entertainments. 



The "Flight of Mercury" is reported among the more 

 striking performances, and its description here will show 

 the general plan of doing such things, and the peculiar ad- 

 vantages of the Sciopticon stage, tinters, cut-off", etc., and the 

 facility with which various blacked-out statuary may be 

 smoothly passed over the disk by means of swinging the 

 one or the other instrument about its front pivot. 



These effects may be greatly varied, multiplied, and im- 

 proved upon, by any one having a large collection of views, 

 by the skillful use of tinters, clouds, ice views, etc. Indeed, 

 originality stimulates skill in manipulation. 



THE SLIDES AND MANIPULATIONS producing the Mer- 

 cury effects are as follows : 



Slide ! A cloud view, from which, by turning the 

 dissolving cock (or dissolver, if oil Sciopticons are used), 

 comes forth 



Slide 2. Mercury, the smallest figure, made to float 

 from right to left, by smoothly sliding the rear of the Sciop- 

 ticon. Gradually bring this out brighter and brighter, and 

 then, the clouds disappearing, let Slide 1 be removed and 

 the blue tinter drawn up, and turn the dissolving-cock 

 handle only to the middle (or, if oil Sciopticons are used, 

 slip the handle over the button, so the dissolver will hang 

 down) ; thus you will secure the figure of Mercury with the 



