The Art of projection and complete magic lantern ... - Yesterday Image

i7oNo lantern manual would be considered complete without a descriptionof the Ghost Illusion, although it is a too expensive arrangementto demonstrate as an experiment. The recent revival of the illusion atthe Christian Institute in Regent-street, which was formerly the RoyalPolytechnic, and by the original producers has caused fresh interest tothe present generation ;and herewith is a description of the art of ghostproducing up to date. The principle of reflection by which this illusionis brought about is very simple, and is seen any time in the window ofa railway carriage whilst looking through the window, the interior of thecarriage is also reflected on the glass ; or again, at twilight, the interiorof room and tire are reflected on the windows, at the same time as thescene outside also is visible to the eye, thus producing a curious illusion,and on this theory the ghost is produced. The real actors are seenthrough a large sheet of plate-glass, and from the front surface of thisglass is reflected a phantom, which is apparently taking part in the sceneamong the real actors. The illustration shows this arrangement : E. G.is the stage separated from the auditorium H, by a very large sheet oftransparent glass, E. F., placed at an angle, not visible to the audience,the lights being kept low, and the stage itself is comparatively dark ;parallel to the large sheet of glass is a silvered mirror, or looking glass,C. D., placed below and out of the spectators' sight, receiving the reflectionof a person at A, also out of sight, and is strongly illuminatedwith a light box at B, one or more being used according to the illuminationrequired : the manner of the reflections of the mirror to the plateglass, and to thence to the audience, giving them the appearance of thefigure appearing at G, which is indicated by the lines drawn on thediagram (fig. 69).The apparition has an ethereal and transparent appearance, which isincreased by the manner in which it may be made to melt away, whichis brought about by diminishing the amount of light which falls on thereal person. The introduction of the silver mirror was a great improvement,as it allows the phantom figure to stand in his natural attitude,whereas the ghost with only the glass E. F. could not be made to appearupright unless the glass was placed at an angle of 45° and the actor ofthe ghost lay horizontally beneath.(We are indebted to Messrs. Routledge & Son, Ludgate Hill, for theIllustration from ''''Inventions 0/ the Nineteenth Century.'")