LIGHT AND COMFORT 



363 



Because of the brilliancy of many modern artificial lights, 

 their inferiority to sunlight is often overlooked. It is very 

 difficult to arrange artificial lights in libraries, schools, 

 and public halls so that work may be carried on with as 

 great ease in one section of the room as in another. Un- 

 shaded high-power lights may furnish sufficient illumina- 

 tion, but the effect is too dazzling. Scattered low-power 

 lights give a more uniform and less trying illumination. 

 Where central lights are to be used, 

 translucent bowls which diffuse some of 

 the light to the room and reflect some 

 to the ceiling probably give the best 

 results for general purposes. 



It must be remembered that if the 

 walls and furnishings of a room are dark 

 in color much of the light will be ab- 

 sorbed and little reflected, and even 

 bright lights will illuminate the room 

 only in their immediate vicinity. Deco- 

 rators have this fact in mind when they 

 recommend lighter walls and hangings for north rooms than 

 for south rooms. 



Whatever kind of illumination is provided, the person 

 using it must be careful not only that his work shall be 

 properly lighted but also that his eyes shall be protected 

 against direct glare. Too much care cannot be taken of the 

 eyes. No arrangement of artificial light is as easy on the 

 eyes or as reliable as daylight, where colors are to be worked 

 with or where careful measurements or minute adjustments 

 are to be made. In work of this kind, rooms with windows 

 on the north side, through which only diffused light will 

 come, are preferable to rooms lighted by south windows. 



AN OLD WHALE 

 OIL LAMP 



