midnight
He was after novelty , and utility was always a secondary consideration with him . Others of his inventions were somewhat more startling . `` The Jarley Ready Writing-Desk for Night Use , '' for instance , was a really remarkable conception . Its chief value lay in the saving of gas and midnight oil to impecunious writers which its use was said to bring about , and when fully equipped consisted simply of a writing-table with all the appliances and conveniences thereof treated with phosphorus in such a manner that in the blackest of darkness they could all be seen readily . The ink even was phosphorescent . The paper was luminous in the dark . The penholders , pens , pen-wipers , mucilage-bottle , everything , in fact , that an author really needs for the production of literature , save ideas , were so prepared that they could not fail to be visible to the weakest eye in the darkest night without the aid of other illumination .