Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-07-05
ABOUT FIREWORKS.
DERIVE THEIR ORIGIN FROM ANCIENT
ILLUMlNATIoNs.
Before the Invention of GUDpowder
Lamps and Fires Were Used to Cell
citrate Patriotic Festivals - Old
Time Decorations.


Time Decorations.
1t seems that in all ages of the world
and among the peoples of all nations
brilliant illuminated was considered the
proper accompaniment of the celebration
of religious apS patriotic festivals, and
with Jew and gentle, pagan and Chris
tian, it has always figured conspicuously
in the Offering of sacrifice, in the worship
of God and in public demonstrations of
all kinds, says the Louisville Courier
Journal
To the races of antiquity gunpowder
and the subsequent invention Of firearms,
fireworks, etc, TO which ii led were un-
known, and fire, regarded by them as the
symbol of respect and immortality, was
the chief agency of their Nominations.
This element was held to be most proper
and holy for sacrifices by the pagans,
and in this they initiated the Hebrews.
The vestal fire of the Romans was most
probably derived from that which fell
from heaven on the victim offered by
Aaron and long afterward religiously
kept up by the priests. To the Romans
fire also represented majesty, and when
used by them it was more for the cere-
monies of religion than for a peculiar
mark of their rejoicings.
The Greeks Lighted lamps at a certain
feast held in honor of Minerva, who
gave them oil; of Vulcan, who was the
inventor Of lamps, and Of Prometheus
who had rendered them service by the
fire which he had stolen from heaven
Another feast to Bacchus was celebrat-
ed by grand nocturnal illumination, in
which wine was poured forth profuseIy
TO all passengers. 4 feast in memory of
Ceres, who sought so long in the dark
ness of hell for her daughter, was kept
10y burning a number of torches. Great
Examinations were made at various other
meetings, particularly the secular games
which lasted three whole nights. So
carefully were these lights kept burning
that night had no darkness.
Nominations of fire were made at the
baptism of princes after the Christian
era as significant of the life of light into
which they were going to enter by faith
On the tombs of the martyrs it was also
used to light the watchings of the night,
but many Of these customs were abol-
ished in time from the abuses TO which
they led But, although illumination
was employed at all times as typical of
solemnity and rejoicing, we can only
trace the rise of fireworks, given merely
for amusing spectacles to delight the eye,
TO the epoch of the invention of gunpow-
der and cannon, in the thirteenth cen
tury. From these two inventions sprang
all the military machines ana war imple
ments Of our present day, and to them
also do we owe the origin of our beauti-
full fireworks.
To the Florentines and Siennese are
we indebted not only for the preparation
of powder with other ingredients to
anuse the sight, but also for the inven-
ton of elevated machines and decora
tons adapted to augment the pleasure of
the spectacle. They began their attempts
al the feasts Of st. John the Baptist and
he Assumption on wooden cdihces, which
were adorned with painted statues, from
whose mouth and eyes issued a pretty
fire. Cabot has engraved numerous spec
linens of the pageants, triumphs and
professions under a great variety of gro
teSQue forms dragons. swans, eagles.
etc, which were built UP large enough
20 carry many persons while they vomit
ed forth the amusing frework.
This use passed from Florence 10
Rome, where at the creation of popes
they displayed illumnatons OF hand
grenades thrown from the height of a
castle. PROCEEDINGS from that time
have become an art. which. in the degree
the inventors have manifested originality
and ability in combining architecture
sculpture and painting, has produced
myriads IF magnificent effects, which
even give pleasure and entertain those