Seen from a slight distance, that would make a splendid spectacle. The movements of this army would be regulated like those of the ballet in the opera. First would come the turn of the lamplighters of New Zealand and Australia. Having set their lamps alight, these would go off to sleep. Next, the lamplighters of China and Siberia would enter for their steps in the dance, and then they too would be waved back into the wings. After that would come the turn of the lamplighters of Russia and the Indies; then those of Africa and Europe, then those of South America; then those of South America; then those of North America. And never would they make a mistake in the order of their entry upon the stage. It would be magnificent.
从远处看来，这是非常绚丽光辉的。这支军队的行动就像歌剧院的芭蕾舞行动一样有条不紊。起首呈现的是新西兰和澳大利亚的点灯人。点亮了灯，随后他们就去睡觉了。然后就轮到中国和西伯利亚的点灯人走上舞台。他们也很快退到幕布前面去了。因而就又轮到俄罗斯和印度的点灯人了。接着就是非洲和欧洲的。然后是南美的，再就是北美的。他们向来也不会搞错他们上场的挨次。真了不起。
Chapter 16
To give you an idea of the size of the Earth, I will tell you that before the invention of electricity it was necessary to maintain, over the whole of the six continents, a veritable army of 462,511 lamplighters for the street lamps.
北极独一一盏路灯，南极也只要一盏，唯独北极的点灯人和他南极的同事，过着散逸、清闲的糊口：他们每年只事情两次。
为了让你们对地球的大小有一个清楚体味，我想要奉告你们，在发明电之前，在六大洲上，为了点路灯，需求有一支为数四十六万二千五百一十一人的雄师。