The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-10-09
THE STORY OF LIGHT
EARLY scoNcEs AND LANTERNS
cANDLEsTlcKS AND LAMPS.


CANOLESTlcKS AND LAMPS
Tragic Incident of the Ancient
Custom of Carrying Flambeaus at
Festivals Origin of the Phrase,
aHoiding a Candle TO YOu."
There was panic of a curious origin
about the beginning of the eleventh
century. 1t was widely believed that
the wear 1000 would witness the end of /
she world, and this superstition caused
4 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 ana
play, and the making Of lamps ana
candlesticks, like other manufactures,
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
church services During the eleventh
century Dinant, in Belgium, became
famous for it's copper work, and some
of the most beautiful chandeliers OF
this period were made there. At about
this time the "couronne des lumieres,
or circle of lights hung from the cell
ing, became a common device for light
ing 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 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 lamp or
candlestick which has not its use, The
old time sllversmiths 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 light covered
| and guarded from the wind, lifted
J down by handle, and distinct from
the lantern, serving somewhat the
same purpose, but hung by chain.
Lanterns IN the thirteenth century
were made of gold, silver, copper OF
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 ricf
little travelling equipments made fol
them, and among these were travelling
candlesticks and wash basins in thii
fine enameled work, the secret o.
which is now lost.
The custom of having servants carr,
fambeaus at festivals also became
general about this time. and strang
and tragic incident is connected will
this fashion At a ball given b.
Charles VI. the torches carried b.
some careless servants came too nea
the headdresses of certain person
dressed as savages and set them Of
fire. The unfortunate guests wer
burned to death, and the king at tn
sight lost bis reason, madness whicl
had a serious effect on the history 0
France
Magic lanterns were invented in tn
time of King Francis l. A device on
somewhat similar plan was used as
sign before shop doors to attract Gus
tom.
Lamps foI 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 great deal 0
light was needed. Candles had the
reached their perfection and candle
sticks their most exquisite form.
candlestick Of crystal given by Loui
XIV. to La Valliere is still in existence
and 1t was at this time also that tn
crystal pendants came into fashion.
Street illumination was not serlousl
attempted in Paris until about the mic
die of the seventeenth century. In th
first years of that notable century tn
streets of Paris were dark The ric
were escorted by lackeys bearin
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 September
1867, the king provided that candles II
closed in cage of glass should b
hung by cords at the height of the frs
story of the house, three lanterns fo
every street, one at each end and on
In the middle. At the sound of bel
struck by a Waterman, they wer
lighted
Paris was, however, considerably i
advance of other cities of the world a
this time. In London link boys stoo
about In public places calling out i
lugubrious tones, Gentlemen, light!
The origin of the phrase holding tn
candle to you" is somewhat doubtful
but some authorities trace it to tn
fact that, as the small light stand ha
not yet been devised, any one who de
sired to read in bed had to have a ser
want stand beside him to hold the can
die. One cannot imagine that readin
In bed under these circumstance
would be very enjoyable, certainly no
to one who had been accustomed to sol
itude and a gas jet easily turned on 0
off, but there is everything in habit
Gas Logic.