Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-23
THRIFTY BEN'S IDEA
Saving Daylight Movement
Forecasted by Franklin
Back in 1884.
ExPoUNDs SCHEMES LOGIC


person to suggest this thing-only in
a more radical way--was our own
Benjamin Franklin, when he was
minister to France.
In letter which was published in
a Paris paper in 1874 Franklin out
lined scheme by which the city Of
Paris at that time might save about
100000 year in actual cost Of
candles for light-a sum which would
be equivalent probably to $4,000 600
today.
At that time the people of Paris
were given to very late hours and to
late rising the next day. Also, prac-
tically all of the houses had solid
board shutters on the windows, which
were barred and bolted SO as to ex-
cludc both light and thieves. This
kept daylight out of the houses so
long as the shutters were closed
In order TO make this suggestion
more popular. he couchcd his letter
in somewhat humorous form; but be-
hind the humor were the cold facts
and the economical logic on which the
scheme was based.
Franklin Expounded Idea.
1t was thoroughly Franklinesque
and excited some comment at the
time. He entitled his letter "An Eco
nomical Project" and addressed it
ITO the authors of the Journal" say
ing:
"Messieurs:
"You often entertain US with ac-
counts OF new discoveries. Permit
me to communicate to the public
through your paper one that has lately
been made by myself, and which !
conceive may be Of great utility.
Il was the other evening in grand
company, where the new lamp Of
Messrs. Quinquet and Lange was in
troduccd and much admired for its
splendor, but a general inquiry was
made whether the oil it consumed was
not in proportion to the light II af-
fordcd, in which case there would be
no saving in the use OF II. No one
present could satisfy us on that point,
NhiSu oit abttNu OuBitt W UC huOWH,
i being very desirable thing to
lessen, If possible, the expense OF
lighting our apartments when every
other article Of family expense was 50
much augmented.
II was pleased to see this general
concern for economy, for love econ
omy exceedingly.
II went home and to bed three or
four hours after midnight with my
head full OF the subject. An acci-
dental, sudden noise walked me about
8 in the morning, when / was sur
prised to find my room filled with
light and imagined at first that
number Of those lamps had been
brought into it, but, rubbing my eyes,
perceived that the light came in at
the windows.
II got up and looked out to see
what might be the occasion for 1t,
when saw the sun just rising above
the horizon, from whence he poured
his rays beautifully into my chamber,
my domestic having negligently
omitted til. preceding. evening to
close the shutters.
Il looked at my watch, which goes
very well, and found 1t was about s
o'clock, and still thinking it was
something extraordinary that the sun
should rise so carly, ! looked into the
almanac, where ! found II to be the
hour given for his rising on that day.
Il looked forward, too, and found
he was to rise earlier every day till
toward the end Of June; and that at
no time in the year he retarded this
rising 50 long IS till 8 o'clock.
Surprise Of Early Rising.
you readers, who with me have
never seen any signs Of sunshine be-
fore noon, and seldom regard the
astronomical part OF the almanac, will
be as much astonished as was when
they hear Of his rising so early and
especially when assure them that he
gives light as soon as heNrises. / was
convinced OF this. / am certain Of
my fact. ! saw II with my own eyes.
And, having repeated this observation
the three following mornings, found
always precisely the same result.
yet II happens that when ! speak
Of this discovery to others / can easily
perceive by their countenances.
though they forbear expressing It in
words, that they do not quite be-
lieve me.
"Onc, indeed, who Is a learned
natural philosopher. has assured me
that ! must certainly be mistaken as
10 the circumstances OF the light COM
ing into my room; for it being we'll
known, as he says, that there could be
no light abroad at that hour, it fol-
lows that none could enter from with
out; and that, of consequence, my
windows being accidentally left open,
instead of letting in the light, had only
served to let out the darkness; and
he used many ingenious arguments to
showme how might, by that means,
have been deceived.
Il own that he puzzled me little,
but he did not satisfy me; and the
subsequent observations made, as
above mentioned, confirmed me in my
first opinion.
This event has given rise in my
mind to several serious important re-
Elections. | considered that, il l had
not been awakened so early in the
morning, ! should have slept six hours
longer by the light of the sun, and in
exchange have lived six hours the fol-
lowing night by candle light
The latter being much more ex-
pensive light than the former, my love
OF economy induced me to muster up
what little arithmetic ! was master OF
and 10 make some calculations, which
! shall give you after observing that
utility is, in my opinion. the test Of
value in matters Of invention, and that
discovery which can be applied to
no use. OF Is not good for something.