208 BENJ. PIKE'S, JR., DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



projects, previously to putting oil in the lamp ; it is impossi- 

 ble to cut the cotton so true as it will be by the plan men- 

 tioned. The cotton should now be taken out, and the lamp 

 filled with oil ; the top of the cotton should be then dipped 

 about an inch into the oil ; if this is not attended to, the 

 cotton will not possess the power of drawing up the oil 

 to the flame sufficiently. Now place the lantern on a table, 

 about eight or ten feet from a white wall ; the further the 

 lantern is from the wall, the larger will be the image, and 

 the contrary ; if the wall is not white, a sheet may be sus- 

 pended against it ; the room being made as dark as possible, 

 sit down to the table with your face towards the wall or sheet, 

 and putting a slider through the slit with one hand, slide 

 the brass tube in or out with the other, till the image of the 

 painting is perfectly distinct on the wall ; take care to keep 

 the painting in the centre, or only part of it will be visible, 

 and it should also be kept against that side of the slit which 

 is next the light. Every slider should be put in the same 

 way, viz. with the right or lettered side towards you, and 

 the paintings inverted. Instead of placing the lantern on a 

 table, it is often more convenient to hold it under the arm, 

 or it may be fastened round the waist, as directed for the 

 phantasmagoria, taking care to keep it upright ; the natural 

 history subjects may then be given in their natural sizes with 

 the utmost facility. 



Besides the foregoing directions it may not be amiss to 

 mention the following particulars, which if not attended to, 

 the figures will be dull and indistinct. 



1. The lenses must be quite clean and free from dust, 

 and what is still worse, damp. If any appears between 

 them, the glasses should be separated, and well wiped with 

 a piece of wash-leather, or a clean dry linen cloth. If the 

 lantern has stood for some time it will be always necessary 

 to do this previously to exhibiting it. 



2. The glass of the sliders should never be soiled with 

 the fingers, and if dusty must be well wiped, taking par- 

 ticular care to go over the painted side very gently. 



3. The lamp must be made to burn brilliantly, and the 

 lantern should not be used till that is found to be the case. 

 It is much better to trim the lamp every time an exhibition 

 is made, and never to use the lamp or cotton if they have 

 stood with oil any length of time; it is recommended that 

 the lamp be always cleaned before putting away. 



