Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-10-24
THE STORY OF LIGHT
EARLY ScoNcES AND LANTERNS,
CANDLESTlCKS AND LAMPS.

Tragic Incident of the Ancient
Custom of Carrying FIambenus at
Festivals - Origin of the Phrase,
"HOIding n Candle to You."
There was panic Of q curious origin
about the beginning Of the eleventh
century. II 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 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
| ly going to come to an end In the year
| 1000, they resumed their work and
| play, and the making of lamps and
| candlestlcks, like other manufactures.
| entered upon an era of prosperity.
MOnasterles were famous schools for
this work, as for all other forms Of
handicraft and paid peculiar attention
to the identifying Of lamps and can
dlestlcks 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 "couronne DIES lumieres,"
or circle Of lights hung from the cell |
ing, became a common device for light |
ing a church, and some of these are
exquisite works Of art.
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. 1t is rare indeed to find any |
cumbersome addition to a lamp or
candlestick which has not its use. The
old time sllversmlths 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 q light covered |
and guarded from the wind, lifted
down by a handle, and distinct from
the lantern, serving somewhat the
same purpose, but hung by n 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
fambeaus at festivals also became
general about this time, and q 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 savages and set them on
fire. The unfortunate guests were
burned to DEATH and the king at the
sight lost his reason, a madness which
had a serious effect on the history Of
France.
Magic lanterns were invented In the
time of King Francis I. A device on
somewhat similar plan was used as
sign before shop doors to attract Gus
tom.
Lamps fell into dlsfavor 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 a great deal OF
light was needed. Candles had then
reached their perfection and candle c
sticks their most exquisite form. A ,
Of crystal given by Louis I
XIV. to La Valllere Is still in existence, |
and 1t was at this time also that the I
crystal pendants came into fashion. '
Street illumination was not seriously V
attempted in Paris until about the mid
die OF the seventeenth century. In the q
first years Of that notable century the '
streets of Paris were dark. The rich S
were escorted by lackeys bearing {
torches, the middle class folk picked 4
their way, lantern in hand, while the t
poor slid along, feeling their way by t
The walls. In his edict Of September,
1867, the king provided that candles In "
closed in n cage Of glass should be Il
hung by cords at the height of the first r
story Of the house, three lanterns for a
every street, one at each end and one u
n the middle. At the sound Of bell, 0
struck 10y Waterman. they were
lighted.
Paris was, however, considerably in
advance of other cities Of the world at
his time. In London link boys stood
bout In public places calling out In I
ugubrious tones, Gentlemen, light"
The origin Of the phrase holding the
andle to you" is somewhat doubtful.
)ut some authorities trace 1t to the
act that, as the small light stand had -
lot yet been devised. any one who de-
fred to read in bed had to have a SER
ant stand beside him to hold the can {
lie. One cannot imagine that reading
n bed under these circumstances
would be very enjoyable, certainly not Il
o one who had been accustomed to SOL
tude and a gas jet easily turned on or &
ff. but there is everything in habit &
las Logic.
Reasonable supposition.