REGISTERED 
I N 
PATENT 
Of F I C E 
Volume XXIII 
March, 1913 
Number 3 
The Vital Functions of Light in the Home 
by F. Laurent Godinez 
Editor's note: This is the third paper by Mr. Godinez in which he gives the results of experimental research in the subject of home lighting. Previous articles dealt with the 
subject of eye-strain and the avoidance of glare. This article illustrates types of satisfactory lighting, and gives practical demonstrations of what may be done to make light 
a factor in decoration. The next, and last article zvill explain by diagram ways of reproducing the suggestions given this month. 
I N selecting lighting glassware for 
the home apply the acid test of 
logic in practical form. Satisfy your¬ 
self as to the physiological value of 
your purchase. Is the glaring source 
subdued ? Can one regard the lighted 
globe without ocular discomfort? 
Then, from the esthetic viewpoint, is 
it commonplace and ugly, or unusual 
and attractive? As a part of your 
decorative treatment, does it express 
harmony? In reply, the circumstan¬ 
tial evidence of the glass-maker will 
enable you, the judge, to make your 
decision. And when you make it, 
bear in mind that in the days of the 
oil lamp, eye-strain from artificial 
light was not so serious as it is to-day. 
Eliminate the evil by restoring' 
those agreeable conditions. Make 
your lighting glassware assist, 
and select it with care and dis¬ 
cretion. 
The globe which has the prop¬ 
erty, by diffusion, of concealing 
the glaring tungsten lamp and 
of suggesting the mellow, rest¬ 
ful tones of the oil lamp, by color 
density, is the one to use. Have 
no fear as to its placement, or its 
effect on visual functions. Even 
on lighting fixtures hung so low 
that their globes are constantly in 
the visual field, it may be used to 
correct injurious conditions. 
Do not feel that light is wasted 
in using dense globes which de¬ 
crease source brilliancy and mod¬ 
ify it as to color. The thing 
which the illuminant manufac¬ 
turer has done most satisfactor¬ 
ily is the production of illumi- 
nants which quantitatively are 
economical, but it remains for 
the user to make some of them 
safe and adaptable to individual 
requirements. 
It is most interesting to note 
that the globe which really meets 
esthetic requirements can never 
The lower rim of the lamp shade protects the reader’s 
eyes, but the light falls full on the page 
The side wall is a desirable locale for decorative lighting 
be productive of glare, since the 
glaring splotch of light so offensively 
distortive of detail is a vulgarity op¬ 
posed to artistic expression in any 
form. Hence in judging globes, rela¬ 
tively, as a part of a decorative 
whole, that which satisfies the esthet¬ 
ic demand is quite likely to satisfy 
the physiological. In regard to the 
latter, Dr. Ellice M. Alger, a well- 
known ophthalmologist, states, in 
characterizing modern lighting: 
“Most of our buildings, both public 
and private, are glaring examples of 
extravagant and inefficient lighting, 
— extravagant and inefficient because 
they are not comfortable even to 
sit in.” 
There is one other form of 
light-source modification accom¬ 
plished not by substituting new 
glassware for old or by the pre¬ 
scribed treatment of colored gel¬ 
atine film, but it is available only 
where gas is used. There has 
been in this industry more prog¬ 
ress in realizing and meeting the 
demand for a “home’ ’ light, 
which by its amber color sug¬ 
gests the comfort of the oil lamp, 
. and makes the atmosphere of the 
. home at least expressive of rc- 
/tpqse. . It is therefore unneces- 
4 tyry; for users of gas to apply 
gellatjng ‘film as a light source 
modnjfer unless they desire to do 
.so, since the amber-light incan- 
.. ‘.descent gas-mantle, available 
wherever standard manufactur¬ 
ers’ products are sold, gives a de¬ 
lightfully soft and restful effect, 
most soothing to that neglected 
and abused human organ — the 
eye. In creating “atmosphere,” 
however, by combining lighting 
and decoration, either with gas 
or electric illuminants, gelatine 
film, available in all colors, af¬ 
fords a medium productive of ir¬ 
resistibly charming effects. 
(169) 
