SCREENS AND LANTERN ACCESSORIES 133 



end of the hall. Failing this, the lantern has to be some- 

 where in the body of the hall, and must be raised considerably 

 above the floor, in order that all the rays may pass clearly 

 above the heads of the audience. 



Nearly all the opticians figure in their catalogues some 

 kind or other of tripod stand upon which to mount the lan- 

 tern, resembling closely the portable stands used for travelling 

 cameras. I would warn the inexperienced against such things, 

 as a source of serious danger. It is easy to get a stand of 

 this kind which appears perfectly firm ; but the spreading legs 

 are much in the way, are apt to be forgotten in the dark, and 

 more than once have caused the whole concern to be tipped 

 over, to the damage of many pounds' worth of property, 

 besides the humiliation of the catastrophe. I never knew any 

 experienced exhibitor who would run such a risk. Moreover, 

 such a stand affords no accommodation for the slides. 



All habitual lecturers prefer to stand the lantern upon the 

 lantern-box, or cabinet, which is arranged to be entirely open 

 at one side when the lantern is taken out, and furnishes 

 a convenient receptacle for the box of slides, limes, and other 

 odd matters required. If any sort of plain and substantial 

 table can be found in the place for the box to stand on, that 

 is the best, and the extra room is always useful. Every room 

 where exhibitions are frequent, ought to have such a table, 

 unless there is a box or gallery as just mentioned. If still 

 more height is desirable, the table may be elevated on a 

 couple of seats or benches, so placed that a couple of the legs 

 stand on each. Such benches, when used, should be arranged 

 across the room, when they will comprise the front side of 

 the square or fence which has been already mentioned as so 

 desirable when working in the body of a room. 



But sometimes there is either no table, or only some polished 

 library affair which the authorities will not allow to be used. 

 Mr. T. C. Hepworth, a well-known and experienced lecturer, 

 showed me several years ago a plan he had adopted to meet 



