WA2K Radio is now on the air, Part 3

LIGHTING UP.

Sir,—Excellent, in a measure, from an economical point of view, as is the
Duke of Westminster's suggestion of a house-to-house " candle-in-window "
illumination, it seems to me that the effect of a general rejoicing could be just as readily conceived at an infinitely reduced outlay. Surely the display of a night- light over the hall-door, say, of every sixth house, would answer all the purpose, and be, moreover, a worthy and appropriate commemoration of those royal domestic savings for which the fifty years of Her Majesty's glorious reign have been so justly celebrated. The effect, perhaps, would not be very great, but the expense would be confined within reasonable limits, which, even at the zenith of a Royal Jubilee, is a matter for the consideration of

Your obedient Servant, A Halfpenny Saved.

Sir,—What is wanted in London on the night of the 21st is a universal blaze
everywhere; and this can only be insured by the permanent installation of the electric light. Gigantic search-lights should be at once planted in all directions, dynamos set up in every street, and squares, thoroughfares, and parks flooded simultaneously with the brightness of day. To give the display its full moral effect, the whole gas supply of the Metropolis should be entirely cut off. Thus the Illumination would be symbolical of the material progress effected during the fifty eventful years of Her Majesty's glorious reign—a circumstance that would much gratify Yours, obediently,

A Shareholder in Fiye "Electric" Companies.

Sir,—There is only one legitimate way of illuminating the Metropolis, and
that is obviously by gas. And this should be done regardless of cost. Every
street should be festooned with jets, and every monument and public building out-lined. Colossal reflecting lamps might also be set up in the Parks. The outlay could be charged to the rates. No electric lighting should be for a moment allowed to interfere with the effect, and this would be in harmony with the traditions of the Royal Jubilee Year crowning the glorious fifty during which the Great Gas Companies have so luxuriantly
flourished to their own benefit and that of the public. At least, Sir, that is the opinion of

Yours faithfully, A Dibector of Three.

Sir,—Here is an imperial idea. Why should not the entire male population of the Metropolis turn out on the night of the 21st inst, in illuminated hats. These could be obtained cheaply wholesale, and might be embellished on one side with the Royal Arms, and on the Reverse with the programme of the six weeks Italian Opera Season now about to commence at Drury Lane. Take my word for it, the effect of such a crowd would be enormous. It would
make a real big thing of the Jubilee festivities. Yours confidently,

Augustus Harris.

Sir,
I have been thinking that no more effective, and, I should say, popular, method of illumination could be devised for the celebration of Her Majesty's Jubilee, than the erection of a series of colossal transparencies, portraying in historical picture the progress of those great Liberal principles the triumphant development of which are universally accepted as its most distinguishing feature. The subject matter for these might be drawn freely from the public career of a prominent statesman, whom I feel I need not further indicate. I might add that the incidents of a recent journey to Wales would be alone sufficient to line one side of Piccadilly, and, indeed, the material I could supply to the artists engaged on the work would in effect prove inexhaustible. I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your obedient servant, W. E. Gladstone.

Sir,
A few tons of dynamite judiciously distributed between Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, the various Government Offices, and Public Buildings, and fired simultaneously by electricity from College Green, would probably recommend itself as the most popular way of celebrating the Jubilee to those who take any interest in the movement on this side of the Irish Channel. However, I don't suppose the idea will be adopted; but
1 merely throw it out for wha1 it is worth.
Yours nationally, A Dublin Boy.

Sir,
Any proposal to illuminate London will be incomplete without the ascent of a fire balloon. Why should not several ascend from the Royal Exchange at midnight, and take up, in turns, the Lord Mayor and several of the leading Aldermen ? The effect, as an apotheosis, would be striking, and it would not matter where they came down. Such, I am sure, would be the judgment of those who, like your Correspondent, are able to subscribe themselves as members of The Municipal Reform League.

The Pity of It.—Mr. Ruskin, in his
best Mentor-martinet style, says:—"You
hear a great deal nowadays of the worst
nonsense ever uttered since men were born
on earth." We do. Alas! that so much
of it should come from—Mr. Ruskin !

John Ruskin (8 February 1819 – 20 January 1900) was the leading English art critic of the Victorian era, also an art patron, draughtsman, watercolourist, a prominent social thinker and philanthropist.