THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 179, 7 December 1880, Page 4

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.

Thomas A. Edison contributes to the 2Sorlli American Rer'iem for October a remarkable essay on bis electric light, claiming that it is a complete success in tlie laboratory ; that all the problems oi chemistry, mechanism ami pecuniary result have been solved satisfactory ; and that too general substitution of the electric light for the household in cities with a near future is a certainty, independent ot all contingencies. No improvement is needei , as will be shown by an exhibition ot Ins lamps about the end of this year. He The perfected lamp consists of an oval bulb of glass about five inches in height, pointed at one end, and with a short stem three-quarters of an inch in diameter at the other. Two wires of platinum enter the bulk through this stem, supporting the loop or reshaped thread of carbon, which is about two inches in height. I lie stem is hermetically scaled after the introduction of the carbon loop. At its pointed end the bulb terminates in an open tube through which the air in the bulk is exhausted by means of a mercury-pinup till not over one millionth part remains ; the tube is then closed. The outer extremities of the two platinum wires are connected with the wires of an electric circuit, at the base of the base ot the lamp is a scion by which the circuit is made or broken at pleasure. When the circuit is made, the resistance offered to the passage of the electric current by the carbon causes the loop to acquire a high temperature and to become incandescent; but as this takes place in a vacuum, the carbon is not consumed. I lie “ life ”of a carbon loop through which a ourrent is passed continuously varies from seven hundred and fifty to nine hundred hours. With an intermitted current., the loop has an equal duration of lile : and, as the average time an artilicial light is used is five hours per day, it follows that one lamp will last about six months. Each lamp costs about fifty cents, and when one fails another may easily be substituted for it. . ,

The light is designed to serve precisely the purposes in domestic use as gaslights. It requires no shade, no screen of ground glass, to modify its intensity, but can bo gazed at without dazzling the eyes. Ihe amount of light is equal to that given by the gas-jets in common use : but the light is steadier, and consequently less trying to the eyes. It is also a purer light than gas, being white, while gaslight is yellow. Further, the electric lamp does not vitiate the surrounding atmosphere by consuming its oxygen, gaslights do, and discharging into it the products of combustion. The heat emitted by the lamp is found to be only one-fifteenth ot that emitted by a gas-light of equal illuminating power ; the glass bulb remains cool enough to bo handled. Of course there are here no poisonous or inflammable gases to escape, and the danger of lire is reduced to nil, with a consequent reduction of the rate of insurance. Again, this light, unlike gas, is always of uniform quality. A sort of meter registers exactly the amount of electricity consumed in each house, finally, not to enumerate all the advantages which this system possess.is over gas-lighting, the lamp can be manipulated even by the most inexperienced domestic servant : nor can the most careless person do in jury to himself, to others, or to property, through not understanding its mechanism.

But preparations are being actively made for placing this system of electric lighting within reach of tiie people ii all the great centres of population throughout the United States. To this cud, cities are being mapped and divided into districts, each to be supplied with electricity trom a central station; estimates arc being made of the exact cost of plant in the dill'ereut cities ; contracts arc being negotiated tor the manufacture on a large scale of engines, dynamos, lamps, wire, and all the other supplies needed for the practical introduction of the system throughout the country ; men arc being trained to put up the plant of central stations, to run the. machine.?, and to execute all the details of the introduction and working of the system. A very important question is that of the cost of this light. The price of the electric light will, of course, be determined by the capitalists who invest their money in it as a business venture, but it will of necessity be low as compared with gaslight, though it will vary according to the original cost of plant-, the demand in any given locality, and other conditions. It is not at present the intention of the company controlling the patents in this system to supply the light directly to consumers. The company will erect the lirst station in New S oi k City, and will themselves conduct that station ; but the other stations in New York, as well as in the other cities throughout the United States, will be managed by local companies, who will pay a royalty to the Electric Light Company for the right use this system.

Compositors make curious blunders. Not very long ago a certain typo, converted “ free-thinkers ” into ,l tree-tinkers. ’’ One critic says that this conversion is not a mistake. He contends that people who are constantly trying to mend the gospel, may he, very appropriately, called free tinkers. Death of Mr H. H. Stafford.— Dor some considerable time past Mr 11. Stafford had been suffering from a most painful disease cancer in the tongue—and though this fearful malady is generally looked upon ns hopeless, Mr Sta (fords medical adviser did not lose confidence, and under his treatment considerable amelioration took place and hopes were felt that tlm sujfercr would ultimately recovei. On Saturday last, however. Mr Stafford was seized by a lit, and on the remedies administered proving of some avail, he was found to he in a very prostrate condition. During the night, wo understand, he had a second attack, and that before D. Monckton could he in attendance lie passed away. Mr Stafford by iiis geniality was a general favorite ; he came to Nelson, we believe, about the year 1853, and for some years took a keen interest in turf matters, being at all times a through sportsman. Unlike his brother, Sir \\ . E Stafford, he meddled not with polities at all events until the last election, when lie was a candidate for the seat which the late Mr A. J. Richmond secured. Mr Stafford will long he missed, whilst for his widow and family the utmost sympathy will he felt. — (,'olonist. Holloman's Pills.— The chiefcst wonder of modern times. —This incomparable Medicine increases the appetite, strengthens the stomarch, cleanses the liver, corrcctshiliousness, and prevents flatulency, purifies the system, invigorates the nerves, and re-instates sound health. The enormous demand for these Pills throughout the globe astonishes everybody, and a single trial convinces the most sceptical that no medicine equals Holloway’s Pills in its ability to remove all complaints incidental to the human race. They are a blessing to the afllicted, a boon to all who labour under internal or external disease. ■ •‘■gaThepurification of ■ tlm blood, removal of all :restraints'from the secretive organs, and gentle 1 aperiuh.ee. action; are the prolific sources of the extensive curative range of Hollaway’siPills.' l-J-t-kHtov . i

The name of Mary . nn Tichbornc was on the list of claimants for a municipal vote in Southampton. The claim was opposed by the Conservatives, who said the claimant was Arthur Orton's wife. She did not appear, and the claim was not allowed.

Sydney Smith was one of the wittiest men alive. .He once went to sec one of his parishioners, a lady with a prodigious family, which had recently been increased. As lie rose to leave, the lady stopped him with. “ But you hav’nt seen my last lxiby “No ” 'lie quickly replied ; “ and 1 never expect to !”—Then lie lied. An Auckland paper says: —Mr James Pemberton, the winner of the prize in Abott’s LoOOO sweep on the Melbourne Cup, is a gum digger at Whangarei. He siient his last £5 in tickets, and then bartered the vhinhnj number to Mr Davis ot the Kamo Hotel for two drinks. Whether Mr Davis intends to stick to it has not as yet transpired. Penalties for not keeping to the right course arc many and various, but we do not remember to have before met with a case in which the rule has been literally interpreted. Liverpool lias set the example. A yomm lady being Fined ns and costs at the police court on October !), for refusing to keep to the right in descending one of the approaches to the landing-stage. After this visitors to Liverpool must be prepared to walk in the way that is mapped out for them.

From the Mount Mi Chronicle we clip the following : —lb is asserted in town today on what is considered good authority, that Ah Lee had killed sheep at Maemuuara’s within a fortnight of the murder and that it was then observed that Ins trousers had been stained with blood. H such had been the ease, evidence ot this nature should have been volunteered when inquiries were being made, and it is matter of regret that it should have been withheld, and better far at the present time had it never been made public. The Empress Eugenie has just bought the Earnborough-hili estate, in Humpsliiio, close to the borders of the ( .'ountyof Surrey, for 17)0,000. The estate was the property of the late Mr. Longman, the well-known publisher, and consists of about AW acres, with a charming picturesque mansion, erected by the late owner about IS years ;mo. The Empress will not go into possession of it until January, as Mrs. Longman, the widow, is very anxious to spend another Christmas there. Her Majesty intends to build on the property a memorial chapel to receive the bodies of this Emperor and the Prince Imperial. The Empress’s lease of Camden-place expires in March next. The prospectus of another newspaper in Wellington lias been issued. The proposed title is'V'/u- pnihi Xnrs, and the venture is to be worked by a limited company, with a nominal capital of £BOOO, in 000 shares ot .-In each. It is also part of the scheme that some extent the paper shall lie worked on the co-operative principle. If the company is lion ted, (says the Wanganui Chronicle), about which there is little doubt, the plant at present owned by Mr Creville will be purchased, and operations at once commenced. The prospectus docs not definitely commit the paper to any line of politics, but probably the Liberal party will benefit most by this addition to the current literature of the day.

It was a Sad Occasion.—The doctors said the man couldn’t live, and weeping friends surrounded his bedside. But ho was not reconciled to depart. He was young and did not like the idea of translation. He struggled hard to accept the situation, but ho couldn't feel right about it. At length, lie opened 1 iis eyes, and asked in a feeble voice if the leader of the town band was at home. If so, lie desired, as a last dying request, that the members of the band should be asked to turn out and play under his window. This appeal was granted, and before the concluding strain was reached, a sulmiissi ve snide hovered about the sin uliken lips of the departing one, as lie murmured : “I'm —resigned. Nothing—worse —can —happen —now.’ Then his light went out.

. A Warm Opinion.—At a certain dinner party not many evenings ago, the mother of a youthful lordling who lias been assertin'' himself of late somewhat noisily in the House of Commons, found herself in the neighborhood of a promiiu lit member of the Ministry, not wholly unconnected, as Mr Micawlier might say, with the government of Ireland. The lady, with all a mother's pride, asked the gentleman what, puttingall party feelings and prejudices for the nonce aside, might be his plain unvarnished opinion of her boy's capabilities. “ Since y,,u ask me, ’’ was the answer, “ for a plain unvarnished words. I think your son is the most impudent young gentleman that ever set in tin: House of Commons.’' If this story bo. I rue, it is good : il not true, it ought to be. London World. Lord .Randolph Churchill is the hero of this story.

Magistrates are accustomed to listen to imaginary grievances, but they rarely meet with so ridiculous an application as was made to Mr Hannav, at Clcrkcnwell, on Saturday October !)th by Frederick Tbivman, of Leverton-street,- (ioswell road. This sensitive individual stated that be went to the Agricultural ball to seeMadamo Chard, who was exhibiting as a mesmerist. Unaccepted her invitation to go on the stage and ho mesmerised, but when there she"slapped Ids face, and ordered him off the stage. When he went up lie was quite aware she could do nothing with him, as a man had previously attempted the tiick at a theatre. The magistrate said the applicant showed no mark, and the ease was too trivial to he entertained. Mr. Dayman, however, thought “ it was hard that he shouldjbc.spanked without any redress.' Poor fellow !

The writer of “ Continental Oossip ” in tli cSi/dneii Mornintj Iferahl says ‘lt is a curious fact that the principal diamondj dealers of the world are Jews. .1 he men 1 ot that race have hitherto tried to escape military service, as they usually purchased substitutes, when caught bv the conscriptions, in the States in which they dwell. But since compulsory service lias been made the rule in most of the Continental States, they are found in considerable mini i hers in the various European armies ; but I it has been pointed out, even under these i changed conditions, .Tews generally manage ;to avoid doing duty in flic ranks. In the ! Austrian army, at all events, they usually i contrive to get into tho medical, comi missariat, or other non-combatant branches i of the service, and even when drafted into the infantry, cavalry, or artillery, they are I generally found occupying posts as office I clerks, orderlies, or odium s’servants. The Austrian arinv authorities attribute the fact to the natural shrewdness of the He- : brew people their aptitude as accountants 1 and clerks, and the steady way in which ; they befriend and assist one another, far-t monopolising many of the above momtioned i classes of appointments. In (It many no little jealousy is openly manifested against ; the Jews, who arc loudly declared to he naturally cleverer than the rest of the community, and to he in a fair way of getting all the great commercial, banking, railway, and other leading, interests; into Jbeil'own hands,” .