Management of Light in Illumination. 179 



These pendulous illuminators might, no doubt, be 

 made in a variety of elegant forms, some of which 

 would probably be much less expensive than those I 

 have recommended. The upper hemispherical screen 

 of the balloon illuminator, for instance, might be en- 

 tirely suppressed, and that below might be made in the 

 form of a large vase, open above ; for, as the height at 

 which this illuminator is usually suspended would pre- 

 vent the flames of the burners being seen above the 

 brim of the vase, the eyes would be as effectually pro- 

 tected by the vase as by the balloon, and the upper 

 part of the walls of the room and the ceiling would be 

 rather more lighted by the former than by the latter ; 

 but the circular reservoir would cast a shade on the 

 walls of the room, which would certainly diminish the 

 beauty of the illumination. 



That shadow might be removed from the walls of 

 the room to the ceiling, and indeed might be nearly 

 effaced, by fixing a hoop of gauze, about two or three 

 inches in width, on the top of the circular reservoir. 

 By ornamenting this hoop with taste, it might easily be 

 made to appear to be a part of the vase, and the vase 

 might be rendered more beautiful by this addition to 

 its height ; and as the illuminator so arranged might, 

 without any inconvenience, be suspended by three 

 chains attached immediately to its circular reservoir, 

 its price might certainly be reduced to about one half 

 of what the balloon illuminators now cost. 



But these alterations, and possibly others still more 

 elegant and economical, will no doubt occur to those 

 who may employ their taste and ingenuity in improv- 

 ing these inventions. 



Nobody will more sincerely rejoice in their success 

 than I shall do. 



