266 



SCIENTIFIC RECREATIONS. 



is generally more concave than the other, for it sheds its particles in a greater 

 degree, and is the more intensely heated. The electric light first appeared 

 in public at the opera in Paris in 1836, to illustrate a sunrise, but it was 

 not till 1843 that it was experimented upon in the open air. We need not 

 trace it farther at present, for a full account of its origin, rise, and progress 



We 



Fig. 267. The Maxim light. Fig- 268. Mechanism of Maxim's lamp. 



is published in a small shilling volume by Messrs. Ward, Lock, & Co. 

 \vill proceed to the methods of bringing out the light. 



There are various lamps, many of which required a regulator in con- 

 sequence of the wearing away of the carbon points, as already explained. 

 We append two illustrations of the Maxim lamp, the invention of Hiram 

 Maxim, of New York. In both cuts the letters refer to the same portions. 



In the first illustration (fig. 267), A and B are the positive and 

 negative carbon-holders respectively, and the carbon points are controlled 



