The Dream City - Its Art In Story And Symbolism (1915) (Hardcover)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Illumination. Mr. Ryan is probably the last man on earth who would wish to take honor when it was not his due; since there is an enormous amount coming to him he has an abundance to share with Mr. Gossling, the designer, Mr. Dickerson, the engineer, and Mr. Bailey, chief of the department of mechanics. Mr. Ryan was sent to the Exposition people by the General Electric Company and his services therefore have been in the nature of a gift to the P. P. I. E. The sight of the illuminations is one of the most unique and astounding features the visitor is called upon to enjoy. To receive each thrill in order and to thoroughly appreciate the magnitude of the plan of lighting one should await the whole procedure from the Court of the Universe. The lights come on by the pressing of the button, and it is easy to miss some of the first finest glimpses. The red light which embraces the Tower of Jewels, to begin with, is as Ryan conceived it, something brought back from the setting sun. It gives warmth and a fine red glow to the surroundings for a short time, then the pressing of another button changes the whole sight into a glory of white brilliancy. The corridors of the colonnade, the eastern and western arches, the Tower of Jewels, the fountains of the Rising and Setting Sun all come in turn into the charm of this wonderful plan. Mere words cannot in any way prepare one for the superb effect of the indirect or "flood lighting," as Ryan calls it. Many secrets lie beyond the ken of the public. Many experiments and achievements constitute the marvelous success this scheme of Mr. Ryan's has become; for instance, the lighting of the coffered domes and ceilings is accomplished by red lights upon one side and white lights on the other, the combined colors keeping the depth and the curv...