The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-10-06
ffEE sToRY o. IIGHE
EARLY scoNcEs AND LANTERNS,
cANoLEsTIct<s AND LAMPS

| n
about the beginning of the eleventh
century. It 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
kof 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
candlestfcks. like other manufactures,
entered upon an era of prosperity.
Mouasteries were famous schools for
this work, as for all other forms OF
handicraft, and paid peculiar attention
to the beautifying of lamps ana can
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 ''couronne des 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 II 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 sIIversmIths 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 a 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 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.
merchants took to having luxurious
little travelling equipments made for
them, and among these We're travelling
candIesticks and wash basins in this
fine enameIed work, the secret Of
which is now lost.
The custom of having servants carry
hambeaus at festivals also became
general about this time, and 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, n 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
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
EaGes and stables where the smoke
could evaporate and a great deal Of
reached their perfection and candle
sticks their most exquisite form.
candlestick of crystal given by Louis
XIV. to La Valliere is still in existence,
and 1t was ut 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 wears of that notable century the
streets of Paris We're 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 n cage of glass should DE
hung by cords mt the height of the nrst
story of the house, three lanterns Tor
every street one at each end and one
in the middle. At the sound of u bell,
struck by a Waterman, they were
lighted.
Paris was, however, considerably in
advance of other cities of the world at
this time. In London link boys stood
about in public places calling out in
lugubrious tones, Gentlemen, light"
The origin of the phrase holding the
candle to your Is somewhat doubtful,
but some authorities trace it to the
fact that, as the small light stand had
not yet been devised, any one who de-
sired to read IN bed had to have SER
want stand beside him to hold the can
die. One cannot imagine that reading
IN bed under these circumstances
would be very enjoyable, certainly not
TO one who had been accustomed to sol
ttude and gas jet easily turned on or
- Z O,,,+ there "a everything in habit