•2170 



Journal of Applied Microscopy 



voke it, be dissipated. Dark interior objects, as black or brown animals, dark 

 backgrounds, etc., usually suffer from this interference. The observer can him- 

 self largely diminish this effect by bringing his eyes close to the glass. 



All this, of course, applies only to glass cases ; free objects are exempt from 

 this disparagement. Art exhibits, as sculpture, architectural models, etc. (Fig. 12), 

 probably are better shown in a vertical light, though this conclusion is not un- 

 questioned, as in high halls with high windows this species of exhibits appear 

 also to advantage. Overshadowing advantages must be clearly shown in favor 

 of vertical light to overbalance the oppression produced by sealed rooms. In 

 the case of small halls the sense of imprisonment they produce is most dismal. 



Fig. lo. — Hall of Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, showing very 

 adequate illumination furnished by lateral windows. 



But the single story skylighted building offers undoubted advantages in con- 

 tinuous wall spaces. It certainly seems to furnish some economy in that direc- 

 tion. But this claim is hardly substantiated, as pier cases, projecting inward to 

 the interior of the hall, multiply wall spaces effectively and generally more than 

 replace the wall space sacrificed by the introduction of windows. 



If continuous wall spaces are desired there need not be a resort to skylights, 

 as lateral windows, at a height of ten feet from the floor, extending to the ceil- 

 ing, furnish very adequate illumination (Fig. 13). Such an arrangement obtains 

 in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and in the case of large, coarse 

 objects, as ancient pottery, glass, sculptures, etc., meets every need. But an 

 illumination of this sort, either for very small objects placed on shelves along 

 the walls, or in flat cases in the hall, is not the best. Pier cases between win- 

 dows produced to the floor secure a more useful disposition of light, while the 

 completed window, flooding the room with light from both sides of the hall, will 



