The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-01-02
LIGHT OF THE FUTURE.
Dwellings and Streets to Be Iiluml-
mated by Phosphorescence.

mated by Ph0SphOrescence.
Light Generated by Fire-Flies and various
otbas Animals Vastly More Economi-
col Than Any Now Used by Man-Pos-
sibility That Man Himself Produces
some Light.
Correspondents of Boston Transcript
Washington, Dec. 24.-Ths light of the
glow worm and FREELY is the illuninant
of the future. Scisnti just now, both
here and abroad, ara busy studying this
strange kind of light, with view to
turning it to practical account. Profess
sor Langley of the Smithsonian Institu-
ton has contributed some work In this
direction; in-Europe the most important
Dubois al Lyons. The latter has newly
published statement to thu effect that
at not very distant day many will en-
ploy such light for Illuminating houses
and streets. Considering the energy IN
volyed in its production, it is ihoompar-
hUly IuUE6 6CUuUIilOol tiiN-~ e.
electricity. The best artificial 1ight
wastes and throws away ninety eight per
cent. of the energy utilized, only two
Dor cent. appearing in the shape OF light
rays. On the other hand, the light emit
ted by the FREELY and the glow worm
wastes but two per cent. In other words,
the animal light is forty eight times
cheaper.
In the course of his experiments DR..
Dubois has made elaborate studies of
great many kinds of light producing
creatures. There is no lack of them in
nature; in fact thousands of species pos
sess this curious photogenic power. Not
a few plates have it alsu. and among the
latter may be mentioned certain mush-
rooms that grow in Brazil and Austria
liz. Some of them give enough light to
make it possible to read by the aid of
single specimen. The luminosity fire
oueptly seen in autumn in the forests on
dead leaves or on bits of wood is due to
fungi. The yellow flowers of the mas
turrium emit a small amount of light.
But in the animal kingdom the torch
bearers assume an immense variety of
forms from the minute organisms that
ire responsible for much Of the OCEAN S
phosphorescenoe, to the deepsea fshesathat
Barry lamps of their own and form end
less torohlight professions through the
otherwise black and gloomy marine
ulysses.
The oply animals with backbones
known to be luminous are fishes, and
most of the lamp bearers among them
are found only in the depths of the sea-
Some of them carry their torches on the
ends of their fins. while Others have them
In rows along their sides. One we'll
known species has luminous organs
somewhat rssem bling in structure a
bulls eye lantern, which 1t is able to
burn on or off at will. The minute ooe-
lnic organisms above referred to are
mere bits of protoplasm; to the naked
Bye they appear like little stars emitting
D steady light, but when highly magni-
Ted their glow is resolved into multi
tude of little, brilliant points or sparks
In the ocean depths are veritable lum1-
nous forests of animals belonging to the
order of polyps, which must produce q
truly fairy like effect
Many jellyfshes are luminous, and SO
are some of the starfshes. A few earth
worms are light givers, and numerous
purstaceans have luminosity OF their
own. One kind of shrimp has brilliant
circle surrounding the eye. which Is ac-
tually in luminous socket. A European
species of "thousapd-l.gs" ernits light
In autumn. But no animals are better
light-giyers than certain Insects, anu even
the eggs of some of there ere luminous
From generation to generation the light
bearing creatures transmit the loren that
is never extinguished. and which seems
TO have hesn lighted at the very dawn
of creation Az for insects, very MI
mute species, found in parts of Europe.
sometimes makes the surface OF TIE
ground luminous over considerable areas,
oongregating in inoonoeivab'e nu IA oers.
The eggs Of tie glowworm ars lumln-
ous, and it il the same way with the nre-
fly of tropical America. The larva OF the
FREELY carries with it at birth the loren
transmitted to the egg by it's ancestors.
Indeed. it has several lights. one on eacn
segment of its body. These luminous
spots may be lignted and extiDgulsbeo
SUCCESSFULLY, ike the gas burners u
stairway swept by the wind, and it il
very curious spsctaole to see two OF the
LARGEST struggling together and twisting
about while emitting flashes of light.
Imagine what the effect would he II the
CONTESTANTS were as large az pythons! In
the adult state the FREELY has thrae Ian
terns-two on the back and one on the
belly. When the belly lantern, which is
the brightest Ct the three. he's been care
fully separated from the body. dried and
pulyeri7a1, it still gives out light when
a drop Of water is let fall upon the pow
der.
This is only one of mar.v interesting
experiments made by DIR. Dubois. he
has suoceeded in making photographs
by the FREELY light, using very sensitive
plates. He has found also that certain
amount of heat, though very small, is
given out by the phofogenic organs.
This latter fact has been demonstrated
by Professor Langley, who says that the
quantity Of heat given off during ten
minutes by an exceptionally brilliant
firefv ia seven-millonth of Gallery.
A calory is the amount Of heat required
to raise the Temperatures OF pound of
water four degrees Fahrenheit. The
almost total absence of heal in oonnec-
tioD with tLis sort of animal light i'm