Management of Light in Illumination. 1 1 1 



the form of a hollow flat ring, on which the dome was 

 supported. 



By this contrivance I got rid of the inconveniences 

 that attend the use of inverted reservoirs ; and I got 

 rid also of all shadows proceeding from the" lamp, for 

 that of the flat circular reservoir was entirely effaced 

 at the distance of a few inches from the reservoir (as 

 I expected it would be) by the light emitted by the 

 luminous dome. The shadows of the burners were like- 

 wise so completely effaced that there was no appear- 

 ance of any shadow proceeding from them to be 

 perceived either immediately under the lamps or any- 

 where else. 



The circular reservoir was very convenient for sup- 

 porting the dome ; but one disagreeable circumstance 

 attended this arrangement. As the tops of the burners 

 could not be raised above one inch higher than the 

 level of the bottom of this reservoir, without prevent- 

 ing the oil from flowing freely to the wicks, when the 

 reservoir was suspended at the height of six or seven 

 feet above the floor, the naked flames might be seen 

 under it. To remedy that imperfection, a hoop of 

 white gauze, 4 inches wide and just equal in diameter 

 to the external diameter of the circular reservoir, was 

 suspended from the bottom of the reservoir, or rather 

 from the lower part of a strong brass hoop on which it 

 was placed. This hoop of gauze effectually prevented 

 the naked flames from being seen under the reservoir 

 (except when pains were taken to see them), and when 

 this hoop was ornamented on the outside with festoons 

 of cut glass it became a very elegant object. 



All the dishes and plates on the table were illumi- 

 nated by the direct rays from the burners, but the eyes 



