New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-07
LAMPS OF ALL AGES.
AN INTERESTING COLLECTION IN THE
NATIONAL MUSEUM IN WASHINGTON.

NATIONAL MUSEUM IN WASHINGTON.
Washington, Jan. 6.-There is a certain
Fascination surrounding the production OF
artificial light and the receptacles made to con-
tain it, from the first rude arrangement that
Rrcmetheus must have made for his curious
wife down to the skirted and ruffed affairs OF
modern times that would do credit TO the ballet.
There is a charm about old lamp. 1t was
lamp held in Psyche's unsteady fingers that
brought about all her misfortunes; 1t was an old
lamp that brought Aladdin's grandeur and
new that caused his downfall.
In the National Museum many specimens of
lamps are on exhibition, under the charge of
Waiter Hough, whose interesting Investigations
bn this topic, and whose writings on the light
hnd fire of the Esquimaus have made him rec
bgnized authority the subject. The ancient
eamps numerous, simple, some ornate,
THE simplest Of all being the rough stone basin,
without nozzle or handle, from the northwest
boast OF America. in which the wick, or rush,
hoated in the oil or hung over the side. The
Pompeiian and Roman lamps. tiny affairs that
burned perfumed oil. often wonderfully or
nate and beautiful A bronze from PompeH
As exquisitely wrought in the shape of stork
Battling with q snake. The snakes head Is
Ereared high in the air. From 1t the lamp is sus
pended. and with ii pair Of tweezers. There
are several lamps from the catacombs fash
toned like the lamps of the day, with the excep-
zion that some emblem of Christianity was used
in place Of the ordinary decorations.
/, MANY CURIOUS CoNTRIVANCEs
In the collection there are many curious con-
trivances of all times and places used for light
ing purposes. The most unique is. perhaps, a
firehy lamp from the West Indies 1t is about
eighteen inches high. in three stories, made of
wicker bamboo cages with little doors In
this the brilliant tropical hrehies impris-
bned and cared for and fed. They retain their
brilliancy for long time. To the Japanese the
lantern is about as indispensable the fan, and
from that country I'll sorts. There
lanterns for pedestrians, and similar ones, sus-
pended from sticks, which carried on horse
back; there are little cabinets with paper sides,
sn which light is placed, and the pretty little
gifu suspended out Of doors, in front Of the Jap
Anese houses. at night This gifu has tiny
bell attached, usually of glass, to whose clapper
Us attached piece of paper, so that when the
wind blows the bell is rung
+ To the Chinese belongs primitive oil lamp
entirely Of bamboo, used in lighting alleyways
These lamps sometimes knocked down or
blown over, and catch fire. Then the city,
portion of it. burns down. The Chinese patiently
rebuild the city. and hang out bamboo
lamps.
The old English horn lanthorn is a great black
top. and its sides made of thin plates of trans
lucent horn. 1t is just such centrivance as is
most familiar in the oldtime pictures of the
watch wandering about at night and shouting
The hours. A suspension lamp from medieval
times has hooklike handle with notches on the
inner side. while the lamp itself is nearly a
basin. with a pointed nose from which the wick
bangles AS the oil burned out the lamp was
moved up another notch. in order to let the oil
sun down into the nozzle. There is an old
Crusie lamp from Scotland. somewhat similar
in construction. but the canny Scot, true to his
Tabled economy, has placed another iron basin
below the oil basin. to catch the drippings.
There fish and birds shown, so full of oil
that the only needful adjunct to make their use
funess complete is wick stuck through their
mouth or bill and lighted. A Flemish finder
box with long handle is here a bronze candle
stick from Italy, myrtle wax candles from San
Domingo, brass and earthenware lamps from
Morocco rush candles from Yorkshire, England,
and innumerable others, some beautiful, and all
curious.
COLLECTION OF AMERICAN LAMPS.
The collection of American lamps is most
Interesting one comprising the lighting para
phernalia OF all sections of the country, from
the earliest times There the iron torches,
suspended in doorways in the Colonial times;
the cid shutters, tweezers. etc; perforated tin
lantern like the 'freckle' lantern of Hawthorne;
"a kitchen lamp from Colonial times. and the
queer old Kay lamps. These hung in the fire
places of Pennsylvania and Virginia, and were
Generally of wrought iron fiat basins with
covers a pointed nose for the wick and hook
10 hang them on; also a 'pricker" and
s'sficker." The former was pointed iron stick
used TO regulate the wick, and the latter a
slender spike to drive in the wall and hang the
lamp
From Morgantown, w. Va, is an old earthen-
ware lamp for burning fat, basin with a noz-
gle supported on a stand that rises from a sau-
cer-like ARRANGEMENT at the bottom. An odd
lamp is one used in Pennsylvania thirty years
ago made of tin, with an oblong bowl or basin
supported on an upright stand, an orifice for
filling with oil and a long slit for the wick.
Quaint and pretty are the little cut glass and
brass lamps that were the pride of our great
grandmothers' souls
Still to be considered among the American
are important factors in the lives of these peo-
pie for as Mr. Hough has stated, around them
the whole domestic life of the people seems to
focus. The lamp is the especial care and the
greatest possession of the woman, and when
she dies it is placed in the grave. 1t is used for
Fighting, warming, cooking, melting snow, dry
ing clothes. and in the arts, thus combining in
itself several functions which have been diff
ferentiated among civilized people" 1t is usu-
ally shallow eiptical vessel of stone. its form
being the lesser segment of circle. The wick
Is composed OF dry moss rubbed between the
hands until it is infiammable, and is then put
along the edge of the lamp on the straight side
and lighted in greater less quantities. ac-
cording TO the heat required or the fuel that
could be afforded. When it is lighted it af-
fords a brilliant and beautiful light without
any perceptible smoke or lodor. The collection
IS most interesting, and one well worth pro-
longed study