Masterpieces of Science 



table on which was another the latter a small 

 short-legged wooden one with more the shape 

 and size of a wooden seat. It was two feet 

 square and painted coal black. I viewed it with 

 interest. I would have bought it, for the little 

 table on which light was first sent through the 

 human body will some day be a great historical 

 curiosity; but it was not for sale. A photograph 

 of it would have been a consolation, but for 

 several reasons one was not to be "had at present. 

 However, the historical table was there, and 

 was duly inspected. 



11 How did you take the first hand photograph ?" 

 I asked. 



The professor went over to a shelf by the win- 

 dow, where lay a number of prepared glass plates, 

 closely wrapped in black paper. He put a 

 Crookes tube underneath the table, a few inches 

 from the under side of its top. Then he laid his 

 hand flat on the top of the table, and placed the 

 glass plate loosely on his hand. 



"You ought to have your portrait painted in 

 that attitude," I suggested. 



" No, that is nonsense, " said he, smiling. 



"Or be photographed." This suggestion was 

 made with a deeply hidden purpose. 



The rays from the Rontgen eyes instantly 

 penetrated the deeply hidden purpose. "Oh, 

 no," said he; "I can't let you make pictures of 

 me. I am too busy. " Clearly the professor was 

 entirely too modest to gratify the wishes of the 

 curious world. 



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