292 ELECTRIC LIGHTING. 



lions, by which the zigzags of flashes of lightning and their in- 

 stantaneous apparition were imitated." 



Very curious effects may also be produced by Colladon's 

 fountain illuminated by the electric light, by reason of the 

 complete illumination of the jets, and various colours they may 

 be made to assume. But the greatest sensation produced 

 by the application of science to the theatre, has been the 

 apparition of spectres on the stage amongst the actors. The 

 reader will recollect the famous apparitions in the piece 

 called Le Secret de Miss Aurore, which drew so many people 

 to the Chdtelet theatre in 1863; and the performances of 

 Robin and Cleverman are not so long past that one cannot 

 recall the deep impressions produced by the spectres they 

 raised and fought with. 



The whole secret of this display consisted in a plate of 

 unsilvered glass placed in front of the actors, and inclined at 

 an angle of 45 degrees to the stage. This plate of glass re- 

 flected the images of living spectres, strongly illuminated by 

 the electric light, who were placed in an opening below at 

 the front part of the stage. These images were visible on 

 all sides without intercepting the view of the objects, actors, 

 or scenes on the other side of the glass. It was necessary 

 to success, that the position of the persons representing the 

 spectres should be so arranged that their images should 

 appear vertical and seem to stand upon the floor, and also 

 that their movements should accord with those of the actors 

 on the stage; opening and closing the illuminating appa- 

 ratus by means of a movable screen, would cause the appear- 

 ance and disappearance of the spectral images. 



