New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-12
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE POSSIBLE LIGHT OF THE FUTURE.

THE POSSIBLE LIGHT OF THE FUTURE.
A LETTER FROM PROFESSOR MoRToN-PHosPho-
REsCKNCE AS MEANS OF ILLUMINAIGoN.
TO the EdiIor Of The IribuHC.
SIR: Some interest has been excited by the
clocks with sefluminous dlals which have been re-
Gently offered for -ale in various places. Having eA
ainined one Of them find that 1t Is coated with sui
phide OF calcium e. Cantons phosphorus. discovered III
1853, attached by some resinOus medium or Varnlsh
Though the substance is therefore, In composition only
the old and familiar above mentioned, ts present
manufacturers have found out some method OF WONDER
fully increasing its efficiency One Of these CLOCKS eA
posed for moment TO direct sunlight CLOVIS so brightly
as TO be easily in a room which Is not daFKeueu
This phospborescence Is, readily excited ny
lamp gas light, and OF these clocks viii continue
70 glow during an entire night with other excitement
than that which It gets by the dinused light IN room
during day. Toward morning the glow Is !alnt out
is s sufficient to show the position OF the CLOCK hahus
The nature Of this action called phosphores-
ence, from a certain resemblance IN effect al
though IL has connection with the subsistence
known as phosphorus In chemIStryis PROBABLY as fol-
lows When light falls upon certain bodies its vibrations
changes In the relative positions OF their PARTICLES
somewhat like the changes which heat vibrations pro-
duoe in solids when they them to melt; for exam
pie, fee melted by the suns rays When, however tnese
vibrations TO act the changed substance laI'S
back into its previous condition as when the melted Ice
like those expended IN Geoting the former change, bu
Oflower tone greater waye-lengh Just rs water
In freezing enits heat, OF low tone" and thus cold
compared bodies, but nevertheless heat COM
pared with OF temperature. so these phosphores-
cent bodies exposed to light suffer change
which. IN reversing itself, the emission Of light
again, fainter it is true and lower In pitch" than the
exciting light but nevertheless very appreciable as
light.
Tho substances required 70 make this compound
j. c. lime and sulphur-are very cheap and the French
savaut Becquere who deliberately investigated TINS
subject describes methods Of preparing II that II
SHALL omit light OF COlOrs orange, green blue
ton should be made equal to that shown by tho
clock das compared with all former specimens IL u
not Improbable that this may become very important
substance. II could pant our walls with such
body 10 would, as Il were, absorb light during the
Gay and then emit II during he night and II would OnN
be necessary TO have curtains draw our upinOus
walls al nignt 10 slut their hgDt when necessary,
just draw curtains over our windows IN the
day time In face Of such arrangement as TINS, even
Mr.. EdisOns new A" electric burner would Dr costly
and unnecessary By painting the outside Of houses win
the same material all need Of street lamps would DC
avoided.
TITS true that some practical cultes remain 70 be
overcome" but what those In these days or nIeh-
tive pOwerl should Of inventors take The
matter IN hand, and organize stock company II WILL
II cOur-e, merely question OF time and expense ID
eluiuUry experiments.
Seriously, however, this form Of phoHphorcsceht
phdc Of calcium wonderful substance, WHICH may
well suggest strange possibilities for tuc future
HObOkeg, Dec. p 1878. Henry MORTON.