The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-03-30

| Edward King thus writes from Paris to
1.-the Boston, Journal: Is'f.,5f
| The latest wonder Of the 'sgay capital" is
| the introduction of the electric light. Not
moment was lost by the Republican au-
| thorites after they had seen the clever in
yention OF NJ. Jablochkoff in adopting it
Ifor city purposes. Under the Empire
opinion was not so easily gained in favor OF
La revolution in anything. A method Of
| lighting streets and shops which was likely
| to drive gas out OF the market would
have no chance in those days. But now
| telephones. monographs, pneumatic dis
patch, and electric light are freely well
coined. The result is that on Saturday eve
ming last the Place de POpera was the most
magnificent spot in the world ut that mo-
ment. The intense white glow from the
electric burners directly in front Of the steps
leading up to the operas entrance and scat
tered ut intervals across the grand boule-
ward to the corner of the new avenue lead
ing to the Comedie Franchise, made the
spaces for hundreds OF yards around about
as light as day. One Of the electric can
dies seems to give as much light as hum
dred gas-jets. Gas looks yellow, muddy,
and petty beside this grand fire, which
deties darkness. For a city lighted by
the new process all the terrors OF
midnight would vanish. Burglars would
find their occupation gone. The assassin
would have to sell his stiletto. Vice OF all
kinds would either stink away, or, disgusted
ct the small rewards which it would obtain
when it could no longer walk in darkness,
would endeayor to reform. observed, in
watching the maskers entering the ball on
Saturday night, that the unaccustomed
glory seemed to bring with it certain sense
Of shame to some OF the jewellers. There
was, for instance, tall and very lovely
woman dressed in tie costume Of gallant
youth of Ialeigh's time-sword, cloak,
hose-crossing the square as arrived. She
seemed very i'll at ease, glanced quickly from
right to left at the long lines OF people Wit
Messing her progress, and felt convinced
that some sense OF tue humillatlng abb
surdity of her position came over her. II
there had been only the semi.obscurlty OF
the square lit by gas she would nave maze
an entree gaily, and mayhap would have
gambolled merrily as any OF the mad spirits
of carnival.
The illumination of the Place de POpera
has now passed beyond experiment. 1t
will be kept up steadily, and the authorities
will introduce the electric light in all parts
of the city as rapidly as they can
NJ. Jablochkotf is Russian and in exile.
don't know exactly why. l believe that
in Russia he was connected with the engi-
neer CORPS of the army. He has been IN
France for several years busily engaged,
since 1874, in periecting his invention. In
April of 1877 he was permitted to make
trial of it in the immense shops OF the
Louvre. II any American man doesn't
know what the HLouvre" is let him ask
his wife. 1t is colossal establishment
like the Bon Marche-a kind OF magnlhed
Stewart's-where one can buy everything,
from pair Of Swedish kid gloves up 10 a
parIor set OF furniture covered with Auous-
son tapestry.
The gas-bilIs in such place are naturally
tremendous, and gas is hardly the proper
thing for lighting up Beautiful stu1ls ana
showing their most delicate colorS. Inc
electric light had been tried in France be-
fore. but the difficulty was with the appa-
ratus, which was too complicated to be
popular. Various mechanisms, known as
:. Regulators" had been invented, and, at
much cost, produced alight shown only now
and then as curiosity. But NJ. Jablochkofl
showed that with the invention of mag
neto-electric machines a revolution had
been inaugurated in electric lighting.
The regulators are now, it is true. USED
in certain vast establishments, like re-
pair-shops, foundries, &C., where no great
amount Of nicely is required IN process OF
labor; but they would not serve at all for
such places as the Louvre. The proprletors
of this last-named place, charmed with the
simplicity of the Russian invention, adopted
it. In June Of last year experiments Win
it were made at the West and East India
docks in London. These experiments
raised veritable outcry among the holders
OF gas stock, which is perhaps the main
reason why England has not already
put the light into operation in many
places. The gas company OF Paris
was by no means idle in attacking NJ.
Jab]ochkoff's revolution, and has given
ysrious estimates concerning the relative
economy of the two methods Of lighting,
which need not be regarded as strictly cor
rect. NJ. Jablochkotf and his associates built
a vast 1nanuiactory in Paris and went to
work to turn out machines. After good
deal OF study they have produced an electric
candle which is simplicity itself, and which
can be introduced anywhere. The Hall.
Marengo next adopted the light. Then the
FIGARO newspaper, always on the qua U,re
for a good advertisement, put two immense
globes at the entrance, to its o1hce, III the
Rue Drouot; and the constructors OF the
Hotel Continental adopted it to light their
labors by night. " ls
CONTEMPT ATED EXPERIMENTS AT THE ExHIDI-
TI0N.
Very extensive trials Of the utility Of this
curious method of lighting are to be tried
at the Exhibition this summer. There Will
be several night festivals, and on these oc-
casions the Jablochk kof' candle will flood the
Champ de Mars and Troeadero with some
thing very like. glory. I remember that in
1897 attempts were made to illuminate the
Exhibition gardens, but only q confused
glare was produced. Jablochkotf's candles
render the smallest object quite as dis
tinct as in the daytime, and there is no
unnatural glare about it. ] am aware
that there is some difference Of opinion on
that subject. For instance, the other day
an Englishman who had been to Madrid,
and had seen the electric light at work in
the Puerta del Sol there, wrote an enthus.-
astic letter to the Times about it.; bnt an
other Eng glishlnan. who had seen the same
light in the same place, did not agree with
his compatriot MS to the distinctness. There
seems. however, to be. q conviction here
| that the Jablochkof candles will come into
general use. Several American gentlemen
living here have been making a careful study
oE the invention. For lighting railway sta
tions. hotels, tunnels, bridges, de-, 1t IS
already perfectly adapted |; it will probably
be some time before IL can be used 10 small
rooms, as gas Is at present employ ed.
h