FAIRIES & SCIENTISTS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1926, Page 1

FAIRIES & SCIENTISTS

A WONDER SHOW. LONDON, April 13. The Optical Convention, opened yesterday by the Prime Minister at the Imperial College of Science and Technology, in Imperial Institute-road, South Kensington, S.W., is one of the most (astonishing things London can have seen for a. long, long time. It is an exhibition and an entertainment at once ; fairies will dance, daily there for the public oil a : htgo about a foot high and scientists will 'also lecture on such subjects, as “muscular imbalance charted with Esdaile’s r.vop hor i ograph.” The first bill ever posted in England announcing a kineina performance is an exhibit, as well as tho telescope reputed to he that which Nelson placed to his blind eye. An invention permitting actually blind persons to read any ordinary printed book or newspaper will bo demonstrated, and a talking film of Sir William Bragg lie shown. That eminent scientist or. rather, his moving photographic image, will give a short lecture four times daily, with .scientific demonstrations. SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY. The fact is that at this Convention, which will last throughout the week, a most admirable effort has been made to eater for everybody. The most distinguished personages in the scientific world will find in different ifdlories a wonderful display of all manner of optical and quasioptica] instruments of precision. For their benefit abstruse and valuable lectures will ho delivered and papers read.

On the other hand, for the average man and woman a hall of attractions has been arranged full of the most amusing and mysterious optical illusions. They can fish there for “Fisherss,” pound notes which turn to nothing as the hand stretches out to grasp them. They can see a howl ap patently suspended in mid-air upon nothing but water. THE OUTLINES OF TURNIPS.

They can see themselves walk with their doubles beside them. Stout men can fulfil the dreams of a lifetime and seo themselves re'plly thin; the thin can delightedly look upon themselves with the- contours and outlines of turnips.

If, moved and amused by all lbe.se clever inventions, tho average man and woman do not wander afterwards intotho more serious galleries and discover that progress has been made by the optical industry and how England is holding her own now in a field that used to he. that of Germany and other foreign countries, he and she will he ■very strange people indeed. If l.ney do they will he rewarded by seeing such sights as tho famous Newton’s optical experiments, which are to be reproduced pit 5 o’clock daily. HOW IT TS DONE. The fairy datieiitg is done- by some marvellous arraugcnieuf of lights and mirrors. The real perloi'iners, all vohmtarv helpers iu the cause of science, dance special dances, composed by the celebrated KomiMirjevsky for the occasion, somewhat behind the scenes. But the audience sees them dance on the tinv stage of a. doll’s house. Ihe vividness of their bright dresses and the glitter cf their ornaments make them look like jewels carved in the human form and given life.