TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. 



THE book in the reader's hand is a translation of the 

 second edition of the Comte du Moncel's "E Eclair- 

 age Electrique" published at Paris, by the Messrs. Hachette, 

 in 1880. Though the original work is one of a series in- 

 tended for popular use, it leaves nothing to be desired on 

 the score of scientific treatment. An able and thorough 

 handling of the subject that occupies the present volume 

 is, indeed, precisely what would be expected by those who 

 are acquainted with the very eminent scientific position of 

 the Comte du Moncel as an investigator and as an author. 

 While the general reader will find in the following pages all 

 that he can possibly require to know about electric lighting, 

 and find it, too, laid before him in full and lucid explana- 

 tions, divested of all perplexing technicalities, it is believed 

 that the book may prove of more extended and important 

 utility, by supplying serviceable guidance to the daily in- 

 creasing number of persons who are called upon to consider 

 how far this latest gift of science can be applied to their 

 purposes. Such are more especially engineers, architects, 

 managers of industrial and commercial establishments of all 

 kinds, municipal officers, members of local boards, directors 

 of railway and steamship companies, lessees of theatres, cura- 

 tors of museums, and of picture galleries, etc., besides other 

 classes of persons too numerous to mention. A remarkable 

 feature of the present work because it is a merit by no means 

 common, either in scientific or in popular books is, that 



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