"At the present time, when the effect upon the rainfall of the kingdom of multiplying electrical agencies is being discussed, it is interesting to note the results which follow upon the use of electric lamps in the public thoroughfares of our towns. There is to be seen at Southend-on-Sea a remarkable instance of the influence which the electric street lamps have upon the duration of leaves. In Cliff Town Parade those trees contiguous to the lamps were still well covered on December the 1st ult. on the side nearest the light, when the next tree, only a few yards distant, was entirely denuded of leaves. Our photograph gives the first tree in the parade with a good show of leaves on its front half, but the back of the same tree, which has been shaded from the lamp, has entirely shed its leaves. The next few trees are also quite bare of leaves, and looking down the row one sees that only those trees opposite the lamps bear any sign of verdure."--Mr. W. J. Cooper, 162, Stanstead Road, Forest Mill, S.E. * * * * * +----------------------------------------------------------+ | Transcriber notes: | | | | Fixed various punctuation. | | P.149. 'phesaant' changed to 'pheasant'. | | | | Note: Underscore around words indicate italics: | | _See page 135._ | +----------------------------------------------------------+ End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Strand Magazine, by Various