THE MAGIC LANTERN. 



and appearance, would also form an interesting series of astro- 

 nomical objects. 



16. Those who have not practically tried the effects of such a 

 mode of instruction can with difficulty imagine the extent and 

 variety of information that may be imparted by it, the facility 

 with which it is acquired, and the tenacity with which it is 

 retained. For the acquisition and retention of knowledge there is 

 no organ like the eye. The most able and clear-headed instructor, 

 using his best exertions by oral instruction, will never impart so 

 clear a notion of the motions of the heavenly bodies, or their 

 telescopic appearance, as that which may be obtained by the 

 ocular, even though silent lessons of the magic lantern. But if 

 the exhibition produced by that instrument be accompanied by 

 proper oral comment and exposition, there are no means of 

 instruction with which I am acquainted, suitable to young 

 persons, that can approach to it. 



17. Passing beyond the solar system, the starry firmament 

 supplies an endless series of objects for optical exhibition with 

 the lantern. The pupil can with the greatest facility be rendered 

 familiar with the constellations, and the teacher may make for 

 himself the sliders. Let him provide three or four pins of 

 different thicknesses, and let him mark upon thick paper or paste- 

 board the arrangement of the stars in each principal constella- 

 tion, which he can easily do by the aid of any celestial maps, and 

 for this purpose I would recommend Professor de Morgan's 

 " Guide to the Stars." Having thus marked out the constella- 

 tions, let him pierce, with the thickest of the pins, holes cor- 

 responding with the places of the stars of the first magnitude. 

 In the same manner, holes for stars of the second magnitude 

 will be pierced by the next sized pin, and so on. The paper thus 

 pierced being pasted on slips of glass, may be used as sliders. 



18. It is scarcely necessary to add, that telescopic views of the 

 nebulae and stellar clusters may be produced and applied in the 

 same manner. 



19. In recommending thus emphatically the magic lantern as 

 an instrument of instruction for the young, I speak from prac- 

 tical knowledge of its effects, having applied it in the case of 

 my own children, and obtained all the results which I have here 

 indicated. 



20. For family and school purposes, a good lamp is the most 

 convenient means of illuminating the sliders ; but where exhibi- 

 tions are produced before larger and adult audiences, other and 

 more effectual means of illumination are resorted to. For several 

 years, the lanterns by which dissolving- views, and other effects, 

 have been produced at the public exhibitions in London, have 



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