THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 42, 18 February 1879, Page 4

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.

'Atlas' in the World says :—' The stale of expectation in which the public mind allows itself fo be held with reference to the so-called •divisibility' of the electric light by Mr Edison is somewhat surprising, seeing that all the lime this divisibility is un fait accompli in Erg'and, as may be witnessed and tested any night of (be week at the Times printing r flice. Armed with an order for this purpose, I went there the- other evening, and this is what I caw. From gaslight we went into daylight, which came from six small lamps placed nt intervale rouod a large room, in which compositors and others were busy at work. These lampß were suspended so as to be raised and loweieJ at will. Io compliance with the wish of one of tha gentlemen present, one of these lights, selected at haphazard, was turned out by means of a tap. and it remained out without the slightest perceptible decrease in the volume of light in the other lsmpa. Tnen another light at a distance was treated in a similar manner, aud with a like result. These two were then relit by a turn of ibe tap the reverse way, and turned on full power. Then one was slightly ' lowered,' so as to give about a third of its full light, as with ordinary gas. In short, we lound there a useful and agreeable light, which can be moderated and arranged to suit all circumstances. This ia tbe Rapitff light. I am no electrician, and shall not attempt to give a technical description of the apparatus employed ; but it seems to possess great simplicity. Mr Rapieff says he cen burn ten lights io one circuit ; that is the carbons will burn for ten hours ; that they can be easily renewed, and without extinguishing tbe lights. He further estimates its comparative cost with gas as less than a thirJ. His statements may be taken tor what ihey are worth ; but judging from what I actually caw in the Times officr, I should siy the sooner gas shareholders begin to ' hedge * by tovestiog in electric light shares the better."