Aug. 29, 1884.J 



♦ KNOWLEDGE ♦ 



181 



were to exceed the meanest proportions, the carriage of the 

 necessary materials, by reason of their weight and bulk, 

 would constitute a potent antidote to the pleasure that 

 might be otherwise obtainable. And even were the 

 amateur artist to overcome the difficulties of transport, 

 his troubles would be still considerable, for his wet plate 

 requires the most exact and careful manipulation, or, not- 

 withstanding all the pains taken in its preparation, it would 

 be absolutely useless for the purpose intended. Another 

 objection to wet-plate photography consisted in the destruc- 

 tive nature of the chemicals used in preparing the " bath." 

 The would-be artist of fifteen years ago was far more 

 likely to be successful in staining his hands aud his clothes 

 — the latter beyond recoveiy — than in producing a picture 

 worthy of the name. 



All this has been changed since the introduction of the 

 diy-plate process. The plates can now be purchased ready 

 prepared ; all " bath " troubles are dispensed with ; cleanli- 

 ness in working is secured ; and the amateur can start on 

 his photographing expedition carrying his whole appara- 

 tus in one hand (unless he be unusually ambitious as to 

 the size of his picture), with the certainty of producing 

 far better results than by the discarded process. 



This simplification of the method has, of course, done 

 much towards rendering photography popular, not only as 

 a study for amateurs, but also as a cultivated amusement. 

 ^Yith the pleasure-tourist the art is already in great favour ; 

 it is self-evident that the pleasures of travel may be greatly 

 enhanced when one is in possession of the means of easily 

 photographing the various places of interest visited. We 

 say easily, for by the new dry process the plate does not 

 require immediate " development ; " after the negative has 

 been taken it may be put aside, and the picture can be 

 developed with perfect success months after the plate has 

 been "exposed." We number amongst our acquaintances 

 an amateur who, though he spends much of his time in 

 travelling both by land and sea, invariably takes his appa- 

 ratus with him. The result is that he possesses an inte- 

 resting collection of pictures taken by himself in diflferent 

 parts of the world ; and many a pleasant evening has been 

 passed in contemplating them and chatting over the 

 reminiscences they recall. 



We believe that ere long photography will be generally 

 regarded as a ready and pleasant dissipator of the enmti 

 sometimes attending a prolonged residence in the country. 

 Indeed, we will go so far as to say that a set of photographic 

 apparatus should be considered to be an almost necessary 

 adjunct to every country house ; to lady visitors espe- 

 cially would such afTord the means of amusement, now 

 that the process has been divested of its objectionable 

 features — an hour or so with the camera could hardly fail to 

 prove a welcome relief to the sport of '• killing time " so 

 often perforce resorted to by the fair sex when away from 

 the " busy haunts of men." Could aught be more enjoy- 

 able, for instance, than to be able to reproduce the glories 

 of favourite scenery, and not only to reproduce them, but 

 to easily multiply such reproductions for distribution, 

 maybe, amongst an unlimited circle of friends 1 Again, in 

 a lesser degree, perhaps, personal pleasure may be found 

 in photographing one's house, gardens, servants, or domestic 

 pets. All objects, animate or inanimate, are easy subjects 

 for treatment by the new process, and in a thousand 

 ways — trivial as these may appear at first sight — would a 

 knowledge of the art be a source of pleasure and profit, 

 not only to country residents, but also to dwellers in cities. 

 So apparent is this to any one who take will the trouble to 

 consider the matter, that we need not further enlarge on 

 this portion of onr subject 



Granting, then, that photography is an art to be culti- 



vated for amusement, or as an aid to the student, the 

 next question to consider is the best means of becoming con- 

 versant with the process. And, in the first place, we wovdd 

 advise the intending student not to rely only upon the 

 perusal of text-books, for although many of the.=e un- 

 doubtedly contain much information on the subject, the 

 untutored beginner will rarely succeed in eliciting from 

 them the real practical instruction which is necessary. 

 Personal instruction is, in our opinion, essential to the com- 

 plete understanding of the process; although the technique 

 of the art is now so simple that but little time need be 

 expended in acqmring a fair knowledge of it by a person 

 of average intelligence. The London Stereoscopic Company, 

 by the way, seeing the force of this argument, are now 

 giving gratuitous instruction to purchasers of their appa- 

 ratus, at their studios, 110, Eegent-street, W. We are 

 ourselves able to testify to the thoroughness of their 

 system of teaching, and the world-wide renown the Com- 

 pany enjoys is quite sufficient guarantee of the quality 

 of their instruments, which are, it is only fair to mention, 

 marvels of compactness, and, furthermore, may be pur- 

 chased at but little cost. The lessons are conducted pri- 

 vately and individually, palpably a great advantage to the 

 learner ; while the studios are comfortably appointed, and, 

 what is of far more importance, excellently provided as 

 to light. Intending students resident in the country 

 may, if they prefer it, receive instruction at their own 

 homes, thereby avoiding the inconvenience sometimes 

 attending a journey to town, for the Company are prepared 

 to send, by arrangement, a competent instructor to any 

 given address ; this plan would also affijrd to those 

 desiring it the opportunity of acquiring, at the same time, 

 skilled professional assistance in photographing such objects 

 in their own neighbourhood as might possess for them 

 special interest. 



In conclusion, we may say that, considering the many 

 advantages to be derived from the study of photography 

 for pleasure, the comparatively insignificant outlay of time 

 and money involved in its acquirement, the cleanliness and 

 simplicity now secured in working, and the facOities oifered 

 — as above mentioned — to the public as regards tuition, it 

 would be surprising if what has been called " the black 

 art " (presumably in reference to the suggested mystery 

 attaching to it, but with more reason in sarcastic allusion 

 to the dirty nature of its manipulation when the wet pro- 

 cess was in vogue) does not become, at an early date, a 

 first favourite amongst the amusements of the time. 



Cork Bricks. — A composition of cork, sand, and lime moulded 

 into bricks is now being tried in Germany for building Ught parti- 

 tion walls. It is said to have the advantage of excluding sounds 

 better than ordinary brickwork, while being light and a good 

 non-conductor. — Enriineering. 



The Commebcial Aspect of Cholera. — The diversion of tourists 

 from the Continent to English holiday resorts this year must be 

 bringing an immense harvest to the inhabitants of the latter. One 

 leading bank estimates the falhng-off in the number of its circular 

 notes issued this year, so far, at 3,000. At an average of £66 each 

 note this would be £200,000, and if multiplied by fifty, to get at 

 the approximate similar decline among other English banks issuing 

 such notes, we get already a total of ten millions less to be ex- 

 pended this year by tourists on the Continent, without taking into 

 account the numbers who never make use of circular notes, but 

 usually take Bank of England notes and British coin for exchange 

 into foreign money as soon as they cross the Channel. It must not; 

 be supposed that all the money restrained from flowing to the 

 Continent is spent here instead, a great many families being 

 probably glad of the excuse presented by the cholera to stay 

 quietly at home and economise ; but, anyhow considered, the saving 

 to the country this year by reduced tourist expenditure abroad is 

 probably thirty millions sterling or so, which ought to materially 

 assist the good harvest in adding to the national accumulations of 

 capital. — Daily yev:s. 



