The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-06-23

guests. the premier and other MEM
bers of the French government.
The air scouts whose patriotic ard
or had not been dampened and whose
patience had not been shaken by the
long period of abuse to which they
had been subjected, we're sweeping
the dim sky with telescopes and list
ening with delicate audiphones at
their ears, when the Australian air
squadron swept into their ken, and
within a few seconds they had given
the alarm, the bells were ringing. the
fire gongs were changing, the sirens
were screening and the Italian avia-
tors were climbing up into the air to
meet the foe.
The service on that occasion was OF
an inestimable kind and the good
citizens of Milan took back all the
harsh things said about the air scouts
and the military authorities abandon
ed their attitude of cold indifference
to them and covered them with the
most fiattering attentions. Now these
young men voluntarily enrolled from
all classes of society-students sales
men, mechanics, wealthy and poor
feel that they have been transformed
into a sort OF military body and they
are proud to wear a distinguishing
mark on their sleeve and consider 1t
a badge OF honor.
Strange Shadow Effects.
With the recognition which has
been accorded to the air scouts and the
admission that their alarms and the
putting out of lights were entirely
justified, the question of finding some
kind of illumination which could be
continued. even under the most i'm
polling need for obscurity for mill
tary reasons, led to the experiment.
ing with blue lights. 1t was quickly
seen that these formed a satisfactory
solution OF the problem. and now
Milan at night shows no other than
blue colors.
The general resulting effect is of
the most fascinating kind. Sight
seers are recalling that Mark Twain
in serious moment painted word
picture of the Duomo in the blue
moonlight. which has not only i'm
pressed all who have read II, but has
been the motive for many thousands
of tourists seeking a view of the
wonderful marble edihce, with its
towers and pinnacles and myraid of
statues by the light of the full moon,
and they affirm that new aspect Of
the cathedral is now shown which is
worthy of being concentrated in
literature.
In the small towns along the east
coast OF Italy, where the Austrian
raiders have killed noncombatants
and damaged precious monuments,
blue lights also have been installed
and the city of Bologna and Florence
and to some extent Rome itself have
taken a certain measure of similar
precautions.
To fully appreciate the artistic eff
fects of the blue lighting, the City of
Milan has to be seen from above and
from below. In the streets the pass
erbys are for time all disconnected
by the new illumination. Surprises
are frequent, pedestrians collide with
objects and with one another, sharp
EXPLANATIONS are heard, frequently
followed by an outburst Of laughter.
The blue light makes strange shad-
ows and the pencils of rays which
come from the shops and stores stand
out stiringly through the spectral
celebration diffused from the street
lamps. The effect Is as OF blue
steel canopy of armor put up to pro-
tect the city.
Any white or yellow light, such as
is produced by the lighting of a
match, causes an amazing contrast
and makes the citizens realize the
surprise more that awaits them when