Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1906-12-05

EsHcIding a Candle to YOU"
There was panic of a curious origin
shout the beginning of the eleventh
century. 1t was widely believed that
4he year 1000 would witness the end of
the world, and this superstition caused
a very general stagnation of industry
and commerce. Such panics have oc-
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 manufactures,
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 identifying of lamps and can.
dlesticks because of their usefulness in
EAuL I'll SClNlNCS- lCuA 4lAS5 lhS Civ NANh
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 "couronne DIES lumieres,"
or circle of lights hung from the cell
Ing, became common device for light.
ing a church, and some of these are
exquisite works of art.
III this period. too, various devices
for improving and shielding the light
came into use. Our ancestors we're
very practical people, and if some of
their utensils appear to us somewhat
singular it is because we do not under
stand the purpose for which they were
used. 1t is rare indeed to find any
cumbersome addition to a lamp or
candlestick which has not it's use The
old time silversmiths and copper work
ers did not spend their strength on
mere decoration.
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 a chain.
Lanterns in the thirteenth century
were 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
The custom of having servants carry
hambeaus at festivals also became
general about this time, and strange
and tragic incident is connected with
this fashion. At a ball given by
Charles VI. the torches carried by
some careless servants came too near
the headdresses of certain persons
dressed as savages and set them on
fire. The unfortunate guests were
burned to death, and the king at the
sight lost his reason, madness which
had a serious effect on the history OF
France.
Magic lanterns were invented in the
time of King Francis /. A device on 6
somewhat similar plan was used as 8
sign before shop doors to attract Gus
tom.
Lamps fell into disfavor at the begin
ming of the seventeenth century an(
were used only by the poor and in pas
sages and stables where the smok,
could evaporate and a great deal O
light was needed Candles had thel
reached their perfection and candle
sticks their most exquisite form. I
candlestick of crystal given by Loui
XIV. TO La Valliere is still in existence
and it was at this time also that th,
crystal pendants came into fashion.
Street illumination was not seriousl,
attempted in Paris until about the mid
die of the seventeenth century. In tn
first years of that notable century tn
streets of Paris were dark The ric
were escorted by lackeys bearing
torches, the middle class folk pickle
their way, lantern in hand while tn
poor slid along, feeling their way b
the walls. In his edict of Septembel
1867, the king provided that candles il
closed in cage of glass should b
hung by cords at the height of the frs
story Of the house, three lanterns fC
every street, one at each end and on
IN the middle. At the sound of a bel
struck by a Waterman. they weI
lighted.
Paris was, however, considerably
advance of other cities of the world {
this time. In London link boys stoo
about in public places calling out
Iugubrious tones, Gentlemen, light
The origin of the phrase holding Il
candle to you" is somewhat doubtful
but some authorities trace it to IL
fact that, as the small light stand ha
not yet been devised, any one who d
l.<xI a.