164 LIVING LIGHTS. 



chemist, named Balmain, has produced from Canton's phos- 

 phorus a paint which is luminous in the dark, and which has 

 been applied to many purposes. Years ago the Chinese used 

 a luminous paint made from powdered mussel-shells. The 

 Emperor Tai Tsung, who reigned in the latter part of the 

 tenth century, possessed a painting which, if examined by 

 day, represented a cow browsing in an open pasture , but if 

 this picture was taken into a darkened room, or looked at 

 by night, the cow was seen to be lying down behind a fence, 

 securely housed and protected. The secret was, that the 

 fence and the cow in the night picture were painted in 

 " South Sea pearl paste," as the Chinese called their phos- 

 phorescent paint, and were alone visible ; while in the day- 

 light the painting of " powdered reef-stone " only was seen, 

 representing the animal in a standing position. 



To Balmain, however, is due the credit of introducing 

 luminous paint in this country and Europe, and it is applied 

 to many objects. We have the faces of our clocks and 

 watches luminous, so that the time can be told in the dark. 

 Match-safes are rendered conspicuous by the same means, 

 and various other articles. 



Through the courtesy of Messrs. Devoe & Co., of New 

 York, I was enabled to examine the application of this paint 

 upon statuary and other objects. Upon entering a dark 

 room, a statue was seen outlined in a wonderful bluish light 

 of remarkable softness and beauty. An arm resting upon a 

 table was vividly luminous, and presented a ghostly appear- 

 ance. A large globe which hung from the ceiling gave out 

 a soft radiance, quite sufficient to dispel the darkness, and the 

 entire exhibition was suggestive of the varied uses to which 

 the light could be put. Among these might be mentioned 



