The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-10-11
LANTERNS AND LAMPS.
From the AncIents' Torches to the turner's
of Modern Days.

| Lanterns are an ancient initiation.
You remember that Diogenes used one
| in his eccentric efforts 10 discover some
thing he did not believe in. The lanterns
of the Greek and Romans contained an
oil lamp. Its sides we're made of thin
layers of horn, waxed parchment, linen
or bladder. Glass lanterns were used in
England an early as 105. They we're
expensive, however, and 1,0UU years
later the tin lantern was chiefly in use
among the poor people. The Chinese
excel in the manufacture of lanterns.
They have used them for ages. Some of
their maudarins have them built at
cost of thousand of dollars each. The
word built is not cut of place here, for
these lanterns are twenty to thirty feet
high and contain hundreds of candles.
Their sides are often of rich colored silk.
On January 10 Of each year they cele.
brate the "feast oft lanterns Why?
Oh, it's way they have-they are
heathens, you know.
No; candles are not the most primi-
tive form Of light. In Homer's time
torches were used, even in the palaces
of the wealthy. Rush lights, early in
use, we're rushes dipped in grease, pitch
or wax. Lamp comes from Greek
word-lampas. The candles ofScripture
are supposed to have been lamps in
which olive was burned. The earliest
lamps were shallow vessels of terra Gotta,
either round or oblong in shape. There:
was small opening in the top in which
the oil was poured I; at the side was q
handle, and opposite nozzle through
which the wick protraded. The form of
lamp is ofleR represented in pictures.
Many of them were ornamented with
representations of war scenes and chariot
races. Bronze lamps have been discov.
cred ofsuch beauty as to entitle them to
rank among the choicest specimens of
ancient arts. In the acropolis at Athens,
according to historian, was a golden
lamp, large enough 30 that when filled it
would burn night and day for q year.
Above it was bronze palm tree to. carry
off it's fumes and act as reflector.
That was the kind of q lamp to have.
Speaking of primitive lamps, some are
still to be found in the country districts.
"While in West Virginia recently" said
q travelling man, 81 saw one that was
primitive enough. A saucer was filled
With grease, and over the edge of it hung
a lighted wick. It spluttered some, but
made enough light to render the darkness
visible, and its heat was sufficient to light
the pipes Of the family. It was more
used for that purpose than any other, it
appeared to me, though it was the only
light in the house. There are many
people in the mountain regions whose
only lights are tallow dips.
"a form of the ancient Greek lampis
still in use among the Canadian French.
In the remote districts of the land the
csniaie, . similar lamp, is sometimes
found. Olive oil, ground nut oil, poppy
oil or other vegetable oils are used in
various districts of the world. In the
tropical regions cocoanut oil is used in
lamps. The trade of candle making,
usually combined with that of soap boil.
ing, vas onc6 an important one. Frank
lin worked at lit tuntil he ran away. The
chan dler made wicks, nodded and dipped
his candles until.driven out OF business
by the general adoption of whale oil as
an illuminant early in the present
century.
Z Improved lamps we're introduced about
q century ago. A Frenchman named
Argand, in 1854, invented a burner with
two concentric tubes, the inner one open
for current to pass through and the
outer one containing the wick. He had
metal chimney to make it draw and
carry off the smoke Somebody soon
found ont that a glass chimny was bstter
for that purpose. ATgand's lamp, va
riously modified and improved, is the
parent Of. all;the best modern lamps.
Various substitutes for whale oil were
tried during the past century, but none
came intogeneral use until coal oil was
introduced It was FIRST made from
camel coal. and that Is the way it got
its name The general development of
the petroleum region in Pennsylvania,
which began in 1858-60, soon destroyed
the manufacture of Goa, oil, just as it was
getting to- be profitable industry.
Many improvements in lamps followed
this discovery. But petroleum is not
new thing-neither is natural gas. Oil
was found in a spring on Zacyuthus Or
Zant, one of the IoDian islands, 1000
years ago, and was burned in lamps in
Sicily at an early age. 1t was known to
the Indians and to the western pioneers
of America, but somebody had TO discoy.
er how to get it in quantities and use it
before the knowledge became any value
to the world. Pttsbug Dispatch.