pistols, cutlasses, and other
dangerous weapons, infest not only the private lanes and
passages, but likewise the public streets and places of public
concourse, and commit most daring outrages upon the persons of
your Majesty's good subjects, whose affairs oblige them to pass
through the streets, by terrifying, robbing and wounding them;
and these facts are frequently perpetrated at such times as
were heretofore deemed hours of security.

It has already been seen that gas-lighting was introduced in the streets
of London for the first time in 1807. This marks the real beginning of
public-service lighting companies. In the next decade interest in
street-lighting by means of gas was awakened on the Continent, and it
was not long before this new phase of civilization was well under way.
Although this first gas-lighting was done by the use of open flames, it
was a great improvement over all the preceding efforts. Lawlessness did
not disappear entirely, of course, and perhaps it never will, but it
skulked in the back streets. A controlling influence had now appeared.

But early innovations in lighting did not escape criticism and
opposition. In fact, innovations to-day are not always received by
unanimous consent. There were many in those early days who felt that
what was good for them should be good enough for the younger generation.
The descendants of these opponents are present to-day but fortunately in
diminishing numbers. It has been shown that in Philadelphia in 1833 a
proposal to install a gas-plant was met with a protest signed by many
prominent citizens. A few paragraphs of an article entitled "Arguments
against Light" which appeared in the Cologne _Zeitung_ in 1816 indicate
the character of the objections raised against street-lighting.

1 From the theological standpoint: Artificial illumination
is an attempt to interfere with the divine
plan of the world, which has preordained darkness
during the night-time.

2 From the judicial standpoint: Those people who
do not want light ought not to be compelled to pay
for its use.

3 From the medical standpoint: The emanations of
illuminating gas are injurious. Moreover, illuminated
streets would induce people to remain later
out of doors, leading to an increase in ailments
caused by colds.

4 From the moral standpoint: The fear of darkness
will vanish and drunkenness and depravi