-'5 6 ELECTRIC LI G PI TING. 



light were near the machine. We therefore see no reason why 

 the cost of electric lighting should not come to be lower than 

 that of gas lighting. It is only a question of time, and the 

 important point was to prove that public illumination by 

 electricity was not physically impossible a matter upon 

 which we now know what opinion to hold. 



It has been asserted that the electric light was hurtful to 

 the eye, disagreeable in its effect, and alarming to horses. 

 The experiments of the last six months have not given me 

 any such impression; and if we stand in the evening at the 

 corner of the Rue de la Paix and the Avenue de r Opera, and 

 compare the ilumination of the two thoroughfares, especially 

 as regards the houses on either side, we should suppose that 

 one of the streets is dark. Certainly, when the electric lighting 

 of the Avenue de r Opera is given up, the public will find a 

 vast difference, and will not easily become accustomed to the 

 gas-lamps, which serva only to make the darkness visible ; and 

 yet these lamps contain three gas-jets where a little while ago 

 there was only one. 



As to the bluish hue of the electric light, it looks cold only 

 because we are accustomed to reddish lights ; but if a red tint 

 were required, it would not be difficult to impart it, by in- 

 troducing certain colouring salts into the composition of the 

 carbons. It is, however, difficult to suppose that this objec- 

 tion; is seriously advanced ; for it seems to me that a white 

 light, resembling that of the sun and showing colours in 

 their proper hues, is preferable to one which casts a false 

 tint on all objects. Those who find fault with the electric 

 light on this ground must equally object to those beautiful 

 moonlight effects that are so much praised by artists and poets. 



In the pamphlet published by the Jablochkoff Company 

 the advantages of electricity for public lighting are thus set 

 forth : 



"Besides the economy of the light it has the following 

 qualities : 

 " i. It does not alter colours, but allows the closest tints to 



