Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-03-24
How the COnfexierales Made
Candles.

which Confederate families were forced to
grapple was that of lights. The gas works
in the principal cities we're kept in opera
ton, but the gas furnished was of the
poorest quality and exorbitantly dear.
Many private families We're unable to af-
ford it's use, and the few who could pay for
it were not always sure Of getting it. On
more than one occasion, in crowded
churches, pastor and people were given a
practical illustration Of Egyptian dark
ness; and ON one memorable night the gas
In Richmond gave out simultaneously all
/ over the city, in all buildings, public
and private. leaving those who depended
upon its Illuminating powers in total dark
ness. Pine torches-in Southern parlance,
| lightwood knots--were to be had in plenty,
and in winter their ruddy glow was COM
Portable and picturesque; but work Or read
ing done by their Pickering light was ter
rible strain on the eyes, and the heat from
summer. Moreover. the pitch smoke was
Objectionable, and blackened the walls.
Tallow candles were the usual resort,
and were often surprisingly hard and white.
Old fashioned lard lamps came again into
use for parlors and state occasions, giving
a soft, clear lustre, much like that Of the
favorite French lamp. But lard was cost
ly and scarce.
For sick rooms and nurseries, and for
mills where the machinery ran all night,
but where a bright light was not constant
ly required, the hollis of the sycamore or
buttonwood tree were dried and used as a
wick in a cup of melted grease. During
tedious case of typhoid in the family of
the writer, a friend introduced u taper SO
safe and satisfactory as to merit use IN
other than war times. A small triangular
scrap of soft paper is twisted into species
of miniature FOOLS cap, the hypothenuse of
the triangle forming its base. This, with
the knob ON top oiled and lighted, and the
lower part spread out like a fan, is insert
ed as wick in a small saucer of lard.
There is no unpleasant odor, and it gives a
dim light by which objects in the room are
barely distinguishable. but from which a
lamp may be instantly lighted. Near the
taper it's light is sufficient to tell the hour
by a watch, to read the label on a vial, and
to measure medicine with ease.
But the Confederate candle was, beyond
all else, the light of those days. Wax and
resin were melted together in the proper
ton of two ounces of resin to a pound Of
wax, and through this mixture long
string of candle-wicK was drawn once and
again, until thoroughly coated. Making
one was always a frolic for the younger
members of a household, and occasionally
furnished excuse for an afternoon party.
1t was matter of pride to have the can
die as long as possible, and the work was
always done out of doors. The saucepan
or 'sskillet" containing the wax rested on
shovelful of hot Goals; the ball Of wick
was unrolled and passed through the liquid,
and from hand to hand, until every inch of
it had been immersed three times, and the
long irregular string became a smooth
waxen rope about the thickness Of an Or
binary lead pencil. This was then wound
on wooden stand-the confederate can
dlestick"-irst around, then up and down.
The free end was drawn through a hole in
a strip of tin nailed for the purpose, on the
top part of the candlestick, and when the
candle was in use was lighted, the long
rope unwinding like a reel of yarn as it
was gradually consumed. The light was,
perhaps, not more than equal to that of a
toy candle, yet it was not trying to the
eyes, and was sufficient for ordinary pur-
poses. The place next the saucepan was
the post of honor and of danger. The wick
was held down In the wax by means of a
small crotched stick; but, in spite of this
precaution, burned fingers were not unfre-
quently the result of the candle making
Mrs. N. P. Handy, IN Harper's Magazine
for March.