The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1906-09-28
THE STORY OF LIGHT
EARLY SCONcES AND LANTE ERNS,
cANOlEsTICKS AND LAMPS.
Tragic Incident of the Ancient
Custom Of Carrying FInmbeaus at
Festivals - Origin of the Phrase,
"HoIding a Candle to You"

Festivals - Origin of the Phrase,
"HoIding a Candle to You"
There was panic Of a curious origin
| about the beginning Of the eleventh
century. IL 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 Shipton's 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.
MOnastcries were famous schools for
| this work, as for all other forms Of
handlcraft, and paid peculiar attention
to the beautifying OF lamps and can
| dlesticks because Of their usefulness In
| church services. During the eleventh
century Dnnnt, 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 u common device for light
ing II 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 10 us somewhat
singular il 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 sllvcrsmlths 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 Sconcc was light covered
and guarded from the wind, lifted
down by 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
] 4 INn .I.,I h.. hl,h Gh nf
/ 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 enamcled work, the secret Of
which is now lost
The custom of having servants carry
nambcnus at festivals also became
general about this time and strange
and tragic incident is connected with
this fashion. At q ball given by
Charles VI the torches carried by
some careless servants came too near
the headdrcsSes 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 serious effect on the history OF
France.
Magic lanterns were invented in the
time OF King Francis l.. \ device on n
somewhat similar plan was used rs
sign before shop doors to attract Gus
tom.
Lamps fell into disfavor nt the begin
ming OF the seventeenth century ana
were used only 10y the poor and III pas
sages and stables where the smoke
could evaporntc and great deal OF
light was needed. Candles had then
reached their perfection and candle
sticks. their most exquisite form. A
candlestck of crystal given by Louis
XIV. to La Vallicrc IS still I'm existence
and IL was at this time also that the
crystal pendants came into fashion.
Street Illumination was not seriously
attempted in Paris until about the mia
die of the seventeenth century. In the
] lllS1 Years Ol ltlul llpNupit N'h'h'' ''N
streets of Paris were dark. The ricf
were escorted 10y laclieys bearing
torches, the middle class folk picked
their way, lantern in hand, while the
poor slid along, feeling their way 10y
the walls. In his edict of September
1867. the king provided that candles in
closed in n cage OF glass should b,
hung by cords at the height of the first
story OF the house three lanterns FOL
every street, one at each end and one
in the middle At the sound OF bell
struck by watchman, they were
lighted.
Paris was, however, considerably IL
advance of other cities Of the world a
This time. In London link boys STOOD
about in public places calling out IL
mgubrious tones. Gentlemen. light.
The origin of the phrase holding th'