Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-11-08
THE STORY OF LIGHT
EARLY scoNcEs AND LANTERNS.
cANDLEsTlcKs AND LAMPS.

CANDLESIlCkS AND LAMPS.
Tragic incident of tine Ancient
Custom of Carrying Flnmbeaus at
Festivals origin of the Phrase,
"Holding a Candle to You."
There was panic Of a curious origin
about the beginning of the eleventh
century. 1t was widely believed that
The year 1000 would witness the end of
The world, and this superstition caused
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
ly 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 cam
dlesticks 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 .scouronne des 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.
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 a lamp or
candlestick which has not its 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 light covered
and guarded from the wind, lifted
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 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 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 1. A device on a
somewhat similar plan was used as
sign before shop doors to attract GUS
tom.
Lamps fell into disfavor 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 great deal OF
light was needed. Candles had then
reached their perfection and candle
sticks their most exquisite form. A
candlestick Of crystal given by Louis
XIV. to La Valliere is still in existence,
and it was at this time also that the
crystal pendants came into fashion.
Street illumination was not seriously
attempted in Paris until about the mid
die of the seventeenth century. In the
first years of that notable century the
streets of Paris were dark. The rich
were escorted by lackeys bearing
torches, the middle class folk picked
their way, lantern in hand. while the
poor slid along. feeling their way by
the walls. In his edict Of September,
1867, the king provided that candles in
closed in cage Of glass should be
hung by cords at the height of the first
story of the house, three lanterns for
every street, one at each end and one
in the middle At the sound of bell,
struck by Waterman, they were
lighted.
Paris was, however, considerably in