Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 91.djvu/40

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��Popular Science Monthly

�� ��Getting ready for a "hold-up" picture. The blackness of night is genuine but the lights are brought from the studio

��The Poison Gases That Kill Men in Trench Warfare

WE do not know defi- nitely the composition of the gases used in trench fighting. From the appear- ance, odor and effects on the men it is believed that a mixture of chlorine and bromine is employed with the possible addition of sul- phur fumes or formaldehyde gas. Germany produces chlorine and bromine in large quantities. These gases at- tack the eyes, the lining of the mouth, throat and nose. One part of bromine or chlorine in one thousand parts of air produces almost instant death. The gases first cause a violent cough, followed by spitting of blood.

��Making "Night Scenes" for the Motion Pictures

THE Limited is held up! Light from a switchman's lamp or from the high-

��waymen's bull's-eye illuminates the harrow ing scene. Or so it appears on the screen at the motion picture theater. As a matter of fact the light is supplied by a semi- circle of flaming arcs such as are used in the ordinary studio for "close-up" photographs. The only necessary feature which the studio cannot supply is the darkness. In order to get the realistic impres- sion which marks the success of a picture, a night scene such as the one described must be taken in the genuine blackness of night.

The accompanying illustration shows the director of such a motion picture lining up his characters and adjusting the lights preliminary to taking the picture. The arcs are fed from the dynamo of the car. The light is very brilliant and is exceed- ingly hard on the eyes since it has to be flashed directly into the faces of the actors. For this reason such night scenes are not as popular with the performers as with the spectators.

��The Largest Straw Hat in the World Is Yours If It Fits

IN the display window of a large hat manufacturing company in New York

��city the hat in the photograph below was recently placed on view, bearing the pla- card, "The Largest Hat in the World. If you can wear it it is yours." Immediately one of the editorial family of the Popular Science Monthly be- came interested. Perhaps he needed a new straw hat. He was too modest, however, to take the company at its word and step right in and claim the hat by right of head dimensions.

Not so the editor's mascot —

the office boy. He was not

absolutely sure that the hat would

fit but he was unwilling to let

it pass without a trial. Boldly he

went inside and tried it on, finding

to his surprise that it covered not

only his head but his shoulders and

a goodly portion of all the rest of

him. Thus convinced against his

will, he nevertheless,

proved his ability to

wear the hat long enough

to pose for a photograph

in it, or under it, though

it required both hands

the largest straw hat in the world for the task.

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