Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-12-19
THE STORY Il or LIGHT

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EARLY sconcEs AND LANTERNS,
cANnLEsTlcKs AND LAMPS
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Tragic Incfdent Of the F Ancient
Custom of Carrying Flambeaus M
Festivals - Origin Of the. Phrase,
sHoldin4 Candle TO You"
\ There was panic Of curious origin
about the beginning Of the eleventh
century. It was widely believed that
the year 1000 would witness the end of
the world. and this superstition caused
a very general stagnation of industry
and commerce. Such panics have &C.
Cured at irregular intervals ever since,
the last one being within the memory
Of the present generation and inspired
by Mother SYMPTOMS prophecy:
The world to an end shall come =,
In eighteen hundred eighty-one.
However, as soon as people became
convinced that the world was not real
" going to come to an end In the year
1000, they resumed their work and
play, and, the making Of lamps and
candlesticks. like other manufac tures,
entered upon an era Of prosperity.
Monasteries were famous schools for
this work, as for all other forms Of
handicraft, and paid peculiar attention
to- the beautifying Of lamps and can
tl1esticks because Of their usefulness in
church; services. During the eleventh
century, Dinant in Belgium, became
famous for its copper work, and some
Of the most beautiful chandeliers Of
this period were made there! AT! about
this time the 'scouronne des lumieres,"
or circle of lights hung from the cell
ing, became a common. device for light
ing g. church, and some Of these are
exquisite works, of art n... .-...s,...~ .,
:. In this period, too, various devices
for improving and shielding the light
came into use. Our ancestors were
very practical people, and If some Of
their utensils appear to us somewhat
singular 1t is because we do not under
stand the purpose for which they were
used, It is rare indeed to find any
cumbersome addition to a lamp Or
candlestick which has not its use. The
old time silversmiths and copper work
.ers did not spend their strength on
mere decoration. 81 ~->s,
The sconce and the lantern were In
general use throughout the middle
ages. The sconce was a light, covered
and guarded from the wind, lifted
down by handle, and distinct from
the lantern, serving somewhat the
same purpose, but hung by chain.
Lanterns in the thirteenth century
vera made of gold, silver, copper or
iron, according to the means Of the
owner The light in them was shield
ed from the wind by thin sheets of
horn. Lantern making was an impor-
tant industry in Paris.
! At this time, too, noblemen and rich
merchants took to having luxurious
little travelling equipments made for
| them, and among these were travelling
candlesticks and wash basins In this
fine enameled work, the secret Of
| which is now lost. ~ s.a - :,e - -<.>S
The custom of having servants carry
flambeaus at festivals also became
general about this time, and strange
and tragic incident Is connected with
this fashion. At ball given by
Charles vi. the torches carried by
some careless servants came too near
the ,headdresses of certain persons
dressed as sayages and set them on
fire. The unfortunate guests were
burned to death, and the king at the
sight lost his reason, madness which
had serious effect on the history of
France. ;... ~
Magic lanterns were invented in the
time of King Francis I. A device on 8
somewhat similar plan was used as q
sign before shop doors to attract Gus
tom. We $s lEs gt<@ {ssa5ta - IT.
Lamps fell into disfavor at the begin
ming of the seventeenth century and
were used only by the poor and in pas
sages and stables where the smoke
could evaporate and great deal Of
light WIS needed. Candies had ther
reached their perfection and candle
sticks their most exquisite form.
candlestick Of crystal given by Louis
/ XIV. to La VALERIE is still In existence
and it was at this time also that thu
crystal pendants came into fashion.
Street illumination was not seriousl.
attempted In Paris until about the mid
die Of the seventeenth century. In tn,
i first years OF that notable century thu
streets Of Paris were dark. The ricl
were escorted by lackeys bearing
torches, the middle class folk pickei
their way, lantern In hand, while tn
poor slid along, feeling their way b.
the walls. In his edict of September
i 1867, the king provided that candles IN
i closed In cage OF glass should b
hung by cords at the height OF the frs
story OF the house. three lanterns 70
| every street, one at each end and on
q In the middle. At the sound of a bel
struck by q Waterman, they wer
lighted