WEEK OF LIGHT

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 51, 5 March 1929, Page 17

WEEK OF LIGHT

BERLIN'S SPECIAL EFFORT

Not long since was observod what is known as "Die Lichtwoche" —The Week of Light—this being Berlin's version of tho "Brighter London" movement, says tho "Christian Science Monitor." it pursued two aims: first to add to tho Gorman capital's attraction, thoroby drawing tho desired foroign visitor's, and, secondly, to show how much more desirable it is to have a welllighted city instead of tho gloomy thoroughfares significant of Berlin since the war. "Tho Week of Light" was literally a brilliant success, nothing similar having boon seen hero since the first Emperor's ninetieth birthday. Fairyland can only describe the busy Leipzigcr Strasso and the "Linden,?' whoro thousands of electric bulbs represented the Milky Way and illuminated the rows of almost leafless trees.

Many of the chief buildings, such as the Reichstag, tho State theatres, and tho great department stores, were bathed in dazzling light, some shaded in soft colours with really beautiful effect, whilo tho fino Charlottenburg Sehloss, like a few other edifices, was illuminated from all sides by searchlights. Illuminated columns of fantastic build were placed in conspicuous placos, and not the least-appreciated features of the Light Week were an illuminated corso of automobiles and a historical pageant. Over'4oo shops competed; for municipal prizes offered for the best illuminated window decoration. Many thousands of Berliners passed these windows and thronged the streets, for they enjoy nothing so much as a show of this kind, in fact, the lights had to bo finally switched off long after midnight before tho crowds would disperse. Twolvo windows of a largo department store deservo special mention; the background was of doublo and triple glass plates in tho form of a colossal fan. Pressed between tho glass wero flowers and foliage in tasteful designs and colouring, each window presenting a different study for various seasons and occasions.