probably have been done by no other means. Under
most difficult conditions he sets his camera, and by the aid of the
magnesium "flash-light," gives us groups of figures at work amidst
gloomy and weird surroundings. The results are exceptionally valuable as
"illustrations" in the true meaning of the word, on account of the clear
and accurate definition of details. The remarkable part, artistically,
is the good colour and grouping of the figures.[18]

Another instance of the use of photography in illustration. Mr.
Villiers, the special artist of _Black and White_, made a startling
statement lately. He said that out of some 150 subjects which he took at
the Chicago Exhibition, not more than half-a-dozen were drawn by him;
all the rest being "snap-shot" photographs. Some were very good, could
hardly be better, the result of many hours' waiting for the favourable
grouping of figures. That he would re-draw some of them with his clever
pencil for a newspaper is possible, but observe the part photography
plays in the matter.

In America novels have been thus illustrated both in figure and
landscape; the weak point being the _backgrounds_ to the figure
subjects. I draw attention to this movement because the neglect of
composition, of appropriate backgrounds, and of the true lighting of the
figures by so many young artists, is throwing illustrations more and
more into the hands of the photographer. Thus the rapid "pen-and-ink
artist," and the sketcher in wash from an artificially lighted model in
a crowded art school, is hastening to his end.

[Illustration: No. XXXI.

(_A Photograph from life, by Messrs. Cameron & Smith. Reproduced by
half-tone process._)]

The time is coming fast when cheap editions of popular novels will be
illustrated--and many in the following way. The artist, instead of being
called upon to draw, will occupy himself in setting and composing
pictures through the aid of models trained for the purpose, and the
ever-ready photographer. The "process man" and the clever manipulator on
the plates, will do the rest, producing pictures vignetted, if desired,
as overleaf. Much more the makers of blocks can do--and will do--with
the photographs now produced, for they are earnest, untiring, ready to
make sacrifices of time and money.

The cheap dramatic illustrations, just referred to, which artists'
models in America know so well how to pose for, may be found suitable
from the commercial point of view fo