30 THE WONDERFUL CENTURY. CHAP. iv. 



plored in a similar manner, and many new applications 

 in this direction will no doubt be made. In illuminat- 

 ing submarine boats and exploring the interiors of 

 sunken vessels it does what could hardly be effected by 

 any other means. 



We thus find, that whereas down to the end of the last 

 century our modes of producing and utilizing light were 

 almost exactly the same as had been in use for the pre- 

 ceding two or three thousand years, in the present cen- 

 tury we have made no less than three new departures, all 

 of which are far superior to the methods of our fore- 

 fathers. These are: (1) the improvement in lamps by 

 the use of the principle of the Argand burner and chim- 

 ney; (2) lighting by coal-gas; and (3) the various modes 

 of electric lighting. The amount of advance in this one 

 department of domestic and public illumination during 

 the present century is enormous, while the electric light 

 has opened up new fields of scientific exploration. 



Whether we consider the novelty of the principles in- 

 volved or the ingenuity displayed in their application, 

 we cannot estimate this advance at less than that effected 

 during the whole preceding period of human history, 

 from that very remote epoch when fire was first taken 

 into the service of mankind, down to the time of men 

 now living among us. 



