12 ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. 
The electric-lighting fever was raging when I reached England, 
and new patents were taken out and new Companies formed about 
every week. I took every opportunity of observing the electric 
light in actual use, and was fortunate in seeing the last of the 
Electrical Exhibition at the Crystal Palace. At the preceding 
Exhibition in Paris the arc light was the leading feature, but at 
the Crystal Palace the chief novelty was the incandescent light, 
which in the short interval between the two Exhibitions had come 
to the front. The incandescent light is far the pleasanter of the 
two, and is much steadier, but unfortunately it is much more 
expensive. In this important matter of expense it never seemed 
possible to get trustworthy returns, so that to the present day it is 
still a matter of debate whether gas or electricity affords the cheaper 
light. It is, however, generally understood that the are light for 
large spaces and outdoor work is less expensive than gas, but that 
the incandescent light for house illumination is usually more 
expensive. The are light, from its troublesome and unsteady 
character and unpleasant glare, has rather lost ground of late. I¢ 
is probably less used publicly at the present time in Paris, London, 
and other cities than it was two years ago, while the incandescent 
light, though far from perfect, seems steadily rising in favour. It 
would no doubt spread more rapidly if a durable, trustworthy, 
and not too expensive secondary battery could be supplied to 
regulate the light and diminish the risk of accidents ; but such a 
battery has still to be invented. 
Electric lighting has had the effect of stimulating and improving 
gas lighting. Many new forms of burner and lamp have been 
brought out, and gas has obviously a long career of usefulness 
before it. I had several good opportunities of comparing the two 
modes of street lighting in London and Paris, and there could 
be no doubt that the best examples of gas lighting were more 
successful than the electric lighting. It was softer, better diffused, 
steadier, and more agreeable to the eye. In the South Kensington 
Museum I saw some halls lighted with gas, and others with are 
lights, and no one could hesitate in giving the preference to gas ; 
