The other night, while attending a dinner party, the conversation naturally turned to topics of the day, such as war, Liberty Bonds, the coal situation and food. My host turned to me with the question as to how the public might help to conserve coal.
My opportunity had arrived! Looking up at the lighting fixtures, I called their attention to the fact that it contained 8 16-C. P. carbon filament lamps. (A fact I had noticed previously and about which I mentally made note that I would speak to my host later.)
I explained to them the waste in electricity by the use of such lamps, and then told them of the clear, white light thrown by the MAZDA lamp. They listened very attentively, but I was quite sure I had not made a deep impression, and as this was what I was after, I asked permission to be excused long enough to run down to the office, about a block away, and secure some lamps to demonstrate my point.
Amid such remarks as, “Why don’t you take your overalls off?” and, “I never knew you were so patriotic; why don’t you join the army?” I departed, to return a few minutes later with 8 25-watt MAZDA lamps. These I proceeded to replace the carbon lamps with.
The exclamations which went up at the change easily repaid me for my efforts, but when I explained the saving in electricity to them again, my host asked me to go over the house the next day, making the changes necessary in the various rooms. Needless to say, I complied. Later in the week, I had the pleasure of doing likewise for another guest at the party.
I think this argument is a good one from all standpoints. It hits old Mr. High Cost of Living in the head for the consumer, complies with the request of our government for conservation, and conserves the coal supply for the Central Station—which pays a pretty penny for each shovelful.