ne, which drives a Gramme generator; and the lecture
room is lighted with electricity, and I am informed that the light is
both better _and cheaper_ than when they used the gas in the ordinary
gas burners. Hence we may expect to see gas consumed to advantage for
producing electric lights.

Considering the difficulties of transmitting steam power to a
considerable distance, and the comparative great cost of running small
engines, it is more than likely that electricity as at present
generated will be found to be economical for driving small motors.

Having thus endeavored to explain what electricity is, and the laws
which govern the occlusion of static caloric, and the development of
dynamic caloric (electricity), in conclusion I call the attention of
the inventors of the age to the great need of a process for oxidizing
coal or oil at a low degree, within an insulated vessel. With such an
invention electricity would be obtained at such a low cost that it
would be used exclusively to light and heat our houses, to smelt,
refine, and manipulate our metals, to propel our cars, wagons,
carriages, and ships, cook our food, and drive all machinery requiring
motive power.

* * * * *

ELECTRIC LIGHT APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES.

By A.J. JARMAN.

For some time past it has been the desire of many photographers to
have at hand a ready means of producing a powerful and highly actinic
artificial light, suitable for the production of negatives, and easily
controllable. Several forms of apparatus have been designed, and I
believe have been, to a certain extent, employed successfully in
portraiture. But it has been well known for many years that the
electric light was just the light that would answer the photographer's
requirements, owing to its possessing great actinic power; but the
cost of its production was too great for general adoption; indeed,
such might be said of it now as far as dynamo-electric machines and
steam or gas motors are concerned, for the majority of photographers.
It is true that several influential photographers have already adopted
the use of the electric light for portraiture, but the primary cost of
the apparatus employed by these firms is far beyond the reach of most
portraitists. The apparatus about to be described is one that has been
carefully worked out to meet the wants of the photographer in almost
every particular; in fact, with this apparatus, portra