tantiated that, light for light, under the heads of convenience,
health, comfort, reliability, readiness, and cheapness, gas is superior
to all.

As a scientific means for the purposes mentioned, gas is comparatively
untried. This assertion may sound somewhat astounding; but I think it is
a true one. More than that, even in the crude and unscientific way in
which it has most frequently been used up to the present, it has been
far from unsuccessful in comparison with electricity or other means of
lighting; and in the future it will prove the best and cheapest
practical means, although, for effect, glow lamps may be used in
palatial dwellings in conjunction with it.

It must be remembered that, in laying down a system of artificial
lighting, we have to imitate, as well as we can, that most beautiful and
perfect natural light which, without our aid, and without even a thought
from us, shines regularly every day upon all, in such an immense volume,
so perfectly diffused, and in such wonderful chemical combination, that
it may safely be said that not one atom of the whole economy of Nature
is unaffected by it, and that we and all the animal kingdom, in common
with trees and plants, derive health and vigor therefrom. This glorious
natural light leaves our best gas, electricity, oil lamp, and all our
multiplicity of candles, immeasurably behind. But although we cannot
hope to equal, in all its beneficent results, the effects of daylight,
or to perfectly replace it, we can more perfectly make the lighting of
our homes comfortable (and as little destructive to the eyes and to the
general health) by the aid of gas than by any other means. It must also
be borne in mind that, in this country at least, we have to fulfill the
conditions of artificial lighting under frequent differences of
temperature and barometric influence, exaggerated by the manner in which
our homes are built; and that for at least nine months of the year we
require heat as well as light in our dwellings, and that for the other
three months (excepting in some few favored localities) the nights are
often chilly, even though the days may be hot. Therefore, independently
of any effect produced by the lighting arrangements, there must be
widely different effects produced in the temperature and conditions of
the air in rooms by influences entirely beyond our control.

As an example of what I mean, a short time ago I had to preside over a
meeting which was held in a