that proper lighting is a question of quantity. For some persons the
ideal arrangement would seem to be a searchlight at each corner of the
room, with a few arc lights suspended from a mirrored ceiling.

Electric light, to furnish the most agreeable effects, must be softened
and properly diffused. If the light units that so perfectly illumine a
room during the day were concentrated they would make a blinding glare,
but diffused they are properly tempered to the eye. The common thought
seems to be to put all the lights of the living room in the center, and
to make them so powerful that they will penetrate every corner of the
room and make it "light as day." In consequence the center is
overlighted, and instead of a similitude of daylight we have unreality.



PLEASING ARRANGEMENT

For the dining-room and library table some form of drop light is
essential. There are arrangements that will transform the banquet or
student lamp into an electric drop light, or the special outfits for
this use may be had in some very artistic designs. For general
lighting, wall sconces, lanterns, or brackets are preferable. Some of
these are very beautiful, though there is a tendency to
overelaboration. Design, of course, should be in keeping with the
general decoration and outfitting of the room. Instead of four
sixteen-candle-power lights in a center chandelier, eight of
eight-candle power will "spread" the illumination better and add little
to the expense, except for fixtures. In beamed ceilings which are not
too high, the effect of lights placed upon the beams is pleasing,
though the effect upon the monthly bill may not have the same aspect.