The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-02
GREAT PROGRESS IN
 LIGHTING RECENTLY Tungsten Light the Most
 Marked Development EYES OF CHILDREN
Investigation Discloses Fact That Girls Eyes Are Usually Worse Than BOys'-COlor Combina-
 tions Easiest on the Eyes

Enormous progress has been made dur ing recent years in the science of illu- imitation. This has not only been of great value in safety and convenience in trains, boats, factories. streets. stores. theatres and churches, but 1t is distinct benefit in conserving the eyesight of the human race, says the Journal of the American Medical association The de- velopment of the tungsten lamp is prob ably the most marked improvement In artificial illumination that has recently been made, for it not only increases the light capacity but decreases the cost Of consumption Most electric companies will, on request, furnish tungsten lamps free to consumers just as they have heretofore supplied the old-fashioned carbon filament lamps. As an illustra- tion of the superiority of the tungsten lamp over all other lamps, it may be said that the United States government has
 issued an order that all carbon filament lamps shall be abandoned in it's build- ings and that 25-watt tungsten lamps shall be substituted in their places
 One of the best lights. for illuminat- ing such places as railroad sheds, foun- dries and blacksmith shops Is what IS known as the flaming arc lamp" It has been improved so that the fumes of the arc are condensed and do not es- cape into the air nor become deposited on the globe. It is a cheap lamp to maintain as one set of cartoons will burn from 100 to 120 hours without attention.
 Lighting of Schools
 The proper natural and artificial light
 ing of school rooms has most marked effect on the health of the school chill dren. One interesting fact disclosed by these investigations Is that girls eyes are usually worse than boys eyes. This
 Is accounted for by the fact that girls are taught to sew early in life and oft entimes with insufficient illumination Sewing lessons should not be given to little girls before seven years of age; good light should always be assured, and discrimination shall be shown between girls having good eyes and those hav- ing poor eyes.
 On account of the effect on children's s eyes, the size and style of types, the quality and color of paper, the illustra- tions, the angle and the position in read ing and writing. the color of blackboards and chalk should always be taken into consideration in selecting school books and school supplies. Black type on a yellow background Is the most legible of all combinations, especially for dis tance, while black type on white back ground comes sixth In order, out of l3 specimens.
 Work of Mail Clerk The work of the railway mail clerk is one of the most trying occupations on the eye. The United States postoffice department has recently taken up the matter and Is preparing to equip all -our postoffice cars with the best and least injurious methods of illumination. Sew eral of UT state governments are taking active steps to regulate the lighting of cars and the headlights of locomotives and automobiles. The blinding result of excessively powerful lights on locomo- I lives and automobiles Is well known | While such machines should be abund- antly lighted to insure safety to all con- cerned, excessive illumination should be ] condemned and forbidden.
 The indirect lighting of theatres churches, restaurants and cars has pro- duced a revolution in interior iilumi. nation. This method is most restful to | the eyes, and when sufficiently abundant | is an ideal method for the lighting of interiors.
 1 Street lights should be protected by glazed or opaque globes. When properly
 installed and placed. such lighting k sufficient and is much easier on the eyes
 than the old unprotected style of lights The glazed or opaque globe seems to be coming into general use and its use
 should be encouraged, not only in public l places, but in houses as we'll. Clear
 globes or lamps should never be used
 they are very trying on the eyes. The
 nearer artificial lighting can approach