Drunken woman and boy unconscious on floor, c 1895

Drunken woman and boy unconscious on floor, c 1895. Victorian magic lantern slide - The Story of A Crime, a moral tale of a woman, Margaret Bell, who is driven to drink, prison, and ultimately her death, by personal misfortune. The woman and boy are lying on the floor in front of a fireplace. Magic lantern shows began towards the end of the 17th century but only became more widespread and popular in the 19th century with the improvement in lamp sources. The shows could range from simple didactic presentations (a favourite topic was the demon drink) to sophisticated shows using double or triple lanterns to produce moving and dissolving images on the screen and, in the case of Phantasmagoria, an eerie, magical experience. ©SSPL/National Media Museum