of burning fluid had been introduced.
The reign of these was short-lived; coal oil came in at the door and
they flew out at the window. Great was the advantage which seemed to
come to mankind from the use of kerosene lamps. Those very forms of
illumination which are now regarded as crude in character and odious
in use were only a generation ago hailed with delight because of their
superiority to the former agents of illumination. Thus much may
suffice for all that precedes the coming of the New Light of men. The
new light flashes from the electrical glow. The application of
electricity to purposes of illumination marks an era in human
progress. The electrical light is, we think, high up among the most
valuable and striking stages of civilized life in the nineteenth
century. It is best calculated to affect favorably the welfare of the
people, especially in great cities. The illumination of a city by
night, making its streets to be lighted as if by day, is a more
interesting and important fact in human history than any political
conflict or mere change of rulers.

About the beginning of the eighth decade of this century the project
of introducing the electric light for general purposes of illumination
began to be agitated. It was at once perceived that the advantages of
such lighting were as many as they were obvious. The light is so
powerful as to render practicable the performance of many mechanical
operations as easily by night as by day. Again, the danger of fire
from illuminating sources is almost wholly obviated by the new system.
The ease and expedition of all kinds of night employment are greatly
enhanced. A given amount of illumination can be produced much more
cheaply by electricity than by any means of gas lighting or ordinary
combustion. Among the first to demonstrate the feasibility of
electric lighting was the philosopher Gramme, of Paris. In the early
part of 1875 he successfully lighted his laboratory by means of
electricity. Soon afterward the foundry of Ducommun & Co., of
Mulhouse, was similarly lighted. In the course of the following year
the apparatus for lighting, by means of carbon candles was introduced
into many of the principal factories of France and other leading
countries of Europe. It may prove of interest in this connection to
sketch briefly the principal features of the electric light system,
and to trace the development of that system in our own and other
countries.

Lighting by electri