The Washington times., 1915-09-28
Lighting OF
House Needs
Great Care: e
System Of Providing Of Light
For the Home Should Be
Installed With Regard to
Physical Well Being of DC.
cupants. ~
BY MRS. CHRISTINE FREDERICK

BY MRS. CHRISTINE FREDERICK
tCopyrisht. 1915. by Mrs. Christine Frederick. ,
THEsE are days Of rejoicing for
the gas man. the coal man and
i the electric light man. but the
householder thinks the melan-
choly days have come when the lighting
and heating bills appear at the end or
the month. Shorter days make longer
bills. and the fall problem Of the house.
hold is how to secure the most light
at the least cost and the best light for
reading. and which avoids cye-strain.
The lighting of the home will some
day be developed into separate
specialized branch. for so important
matter as lighting of homes cannot De
left to a jobber in gas fixtures, or to
the whim OF the real estate agent. Nor
will the future housewife choose her
lighting because certain globe mas
pretty beads on it. or because the
aluminium finish matches the room dec
orations No, lighting Is n matter or
science. and the effect Of certain lights
upon the eye and upon colors. Will be
the determining factor
Soften Harsh Glares.
The householder who rents Is now at
the greatest disadvantage because the
light fixtures are already installed and
she may think she can do little and
modify them. The first glaring fault
Of many Is that the dome fixture, so
frequently found over the dining room
table Is so placed that the light shines
directly into the eye. This fault can
be remedied either by lowering the
dome at small expense. or by purchas-
Ing amber-colored "gelntine film and
shaping it into an interior shade for
the dome. In this way the harsh. white
light can be softened into a mellow
light. which is the most most normal ma t,,M, sna
can he used on any bulb.
Whenever the shades Of an electric
bulb are open, exposing the tip or the
lamp. the inner shade surface should he
This will avoid the glare. Similarly.
sref1ector NAV be used on any bulb or
igas lamp so that the light may strike
at a better angle and thus be more
there is hut a single drop" in the
room. either gas or electric. a reflector
will more widely distribute the light. or
concentrate 1t On any one given spot
There are also bowls Of diffusing glass
which NAV be hung around the lamp 50
.as to give a rejecting effect.
Indirect System.
= n at all possible, the indirect"
method of lighting should be followed.
mat IS. caSunE the lShtI upward TO the
ceiling by means of reflector from
whence it falls and is diffused evenly
throughout the room. The same bulb
which would yield very inadequate.
hard light If directed downward Will
yield more light of a better quality II
reflected upward. AS nearly as possible
the common electric fixture which car
Ties the lamp at an angle of IS degrees
should he changed and the lamp carried
tvarticallv This can often be accom-
plished by merely bending the tube.
I, Noiored glass or silk. always hintlers
The amount OF light. for the light is
the room If a co.ored shade Is used
It should be lined with white on the
inside. A plain. etched glass shade is
most harmful. as 1t shows the source
or light within. In choosing a table
lamp, choose one with a high pedestal
as IN this way the light will be diffused
further than II the stand is short.