Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1906-11-03
THE STORY OF LIGHT
EARLY SCONCsS AND LANTERNS
cANDLESTlCKS AND LAMPS.

rr.v,c Incident of the Ancient
Custom of Carrying Flambeaus AT
Festivals - Origin of the fhr"Se'
.uoldinr n Candle TO You"
There was a panic Of curious origin
about the beginning of the eleventh
century. II was widely believed tnat
tho year 1000 would witness the end OF
the world, and this superstition causeo
a very general stagnation Of industry
md commerce. Such panics nave oc-
cured at irregular intervals ever SINCE
tho last one being within the memory
NJ the present generation and inspired
nv Mother SYMPTOMS prophecy:
The world to an end shall como
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 ana
nlay. and the making OF lamps anu
candlesticks, like other manufacturers
entered upon an era OF prosperity
Nonasteries were famous schools Tor
this work as for all other forms OF
handicraft, and paid peculiar afternoon
70 the identifying of lamps and can
dlesticks because Of their usefulness III
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 des lumieres'
or circle of lights hung from the cell
ing. became common device Tor nsh''
ing a church, and some OF THESE are
exquisite works Of art
In this period, too, various devices
for improving and shielding the nsn'
came into use. Our ancestors were
very practical people, and II some Oh
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 ina an!
cumbersome addition to lamp u
candlestick which has not It's use. 1h'
old time sllversmiths and copper WORK
ers did not spend their strength Oh
mere decoration.
Tho sconce and the lantern were II
general use throughout the middle
ages The sconce was light coVere'
and guarded from the wind, nrte'
; down by handle, and distinct iron
tho lantern. serving somewhat tn
same purpose, but hung by chain'
Lanterns In the thirteenth centur'
were made of gold, silver, copper o
iron. according to the means OF u
owner. The light In them was snieie
:. Cd from the wind by thin sheets Q
horn. Lantern making was an impo
tant industry in Paris.
AT this time, too, noblemen and nc
merchants took to having luxuriou
little travelling equipments mace II
them. and among these were travein
l. candlesticks and wash basins In IN
% fine enameled work, the secret
. which Is now lost.
e The custom Of having servants carr
'. fambeaus at festivals also pecan
" general about this time, and strant
20 and tragic incident Is connected VII
Is this fashion. At ball given [
III Charles vi. the torches carried
" some careless servants came TOO ne
- the headdresses of certain persol
dressed as savages and set them
fire. The unfortunate guests we
burned to death, and the king at u
- sight lost his reason, madness VIII
D had q serious effect on the history
;" France.
Magic lanterns were invented IN I
time of King Francis l. A device Oh
AZ somewhat similar plan was used as
"a sign before shop doors to attract c.
,,%V9 tom.
IS Lamps fell into disfavor at the peg
- ming Of the seventeenth century a
/ "a were used only by the poor ana III p
"a sages and stables where the smo
: % could evaporate and a great deal
7 80 light was needed. Candles had u
y. -" reached their perfection and cano
sticks their most exquisite form.
A candlestick of crystal given by 10
m XIV 70 La Valliere Is still in existen
and II was at this time also tnat
? 20 crystal pendants came into rasnloh'
Z IS Street illumination was not seriou
. m. o++omntad In Paris until about the n
. m die of the seventeenth century. III
j 10 ~ first wears of that notable century
/ IS streets of Paris were dark. The 7
z% were escorted by lackeys pear
. torches the middle class folk picl
ape their way. lantern in hand, while
M. moor slid along, feeling their way
-,o. the walls In his edict OF Septemt
mar 1867. the king provided that candles
closed in cage of glass should
, den. hung by cords at the height OF the
story of the house, three lanterns
every street, one at each end ana
IN the middle. At the sound or
truck by Waterman, they
lbs I'ghted.
Paris was, however, considerably
advance of other cities Of the wcriC
This time. In London link boys ST
r about in public places calling gu!
L' lugubrious tones, Gentlemen hsl
The origin Of the phrase holding
candle to you" is somewhat DOUBT
hut some authorities trace II 10
fact that, as the small light stand
rkS not yet been devised, any one VINO
sired to read In bed had to have
want stand beside him to hold the
die. One cannot imagine that rea(
will In bed under these circumstai
the would be very enjoyable, certainly
Cher to one who had been accustomed 10
itude and a gas Jet easily turned o.
off. but there Is everything In hap
Gas Logic.
Reasonable Superstition
Binks-I believe that Mary does
lova mo any longer. Enks-Dld she