The Art of Storytelling

Lantern slides illustrated stories and events from literature, poetry, and history. The nature of slide projection and the ability to create the illusion of moving slides created the perfect avenue for visual and moving storytelling. This ability to create “moving pictures” made lanterns, and slides, a popular and informative form of entertainment.

These slides depict passages from Henry Wadsforth Longfellow's (1807-1882) 1860 poem Paul Revere's Ride. Joseph Boggs Beale created these illustrations between 1896 and 1897 for the C.W. Briggs Company.

"He Said to his friend - 'If the British march, / By land or sea from the town to-night,'

"Then he climbed to the tower of the church, / Up the wooden stairs with stealthy tread,"

"And lo! as he looks, on the belfry's height, / A glimmer, and then a gleam of light!"

"And beneath, from the pebbles, in passing, a spark, / Struck out by a steed that flies fearless and fleet:"

"It was twelve by the village clock / When he crossed the bridge into Medford town."

"It was one by the village clock, / When he galloped into Lexington."

"And one was safe and asleep in his bed, / Who at the bridge would be first to fall."

"How the farmers gave them ball for ball, / From behind each fence and farm-yard wall;"