The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-12-26
A STORY OF IraHr.
Wonderful Development since the
Days OF Candles for street Lights.

Development Since tha
Days OF Candles for street Lights.
lie who goes forth after nlghtfall II
Q modern city, where the streets ar,
brilliantly lighted up by the bright ray,
of a million lamps-more or less--caI
hardly appreciate the great benefit thai
has come through the wonderful de
yelopment of artificial light. To-day
the pressure Of n finger on an cleo
trio button will produce almost more
light In n house than could be found
In an entire city of the olden time. The
story of light is replete with interest.
; The sconce and the lantern were in
general use throughout the middle ages.
The sconee was a light, covered and
guarded from the wind, lifted down by
a handle and dist t from the lantern.
serving somewhat the same purpose, but
hung by a chain. =
Lanterns in the thirteenth century
were made of gold, silver. copper or
ron, according to the means of the own.
er. The light In the latter was shielded
from the wind by thin sheets of horn.
Lantern making was an important In.
dustry in Paris. ,
Noblemen and rich merchants took to
having luxurious little travelling equip
ments made for them, and among these
were travelling candlesticks and wash
basins in fine enameled work, the secret
of which is now lost.
The custom of having servants carry
hambeaux at festivals also became gen
eral about this time, and a strange and
tragic incident Is connected with this
fashion. At a ball given by Charles
w the torches carried by some careless
8, wants came too ear the head-dress.
es of certain persons dressed as saw.
ages and set them on fire. The unfor.
tunate guests We're burned to death, and
the King, at the sight, lost his reason,
a madness which had a serious effect
on the history of France.
Magic lanterns were invented In the
time OF King Francis l. A device on a
somewhat similar plan was used as O
sign before shop doors to attract Gus
toners. &.
Lamps fell into disfsvor at the be-
ginning of the seventeenth century and
were only used by the poor and in
passages and in stables where the
smoke could evaporate and a great deal
Of light was needed. Candles had
reached their perfection and candle
sticks their most exquisite form. A
candlestick Of crystal given by Louis
X Y to La Nalllere Is still in existence,
and 1t 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
frst years Of that notable century the
streets Of Paris were dark. The rich
were escorted by lackeys bearing torch
es, the middle class folks picked their
way, lantern In hand, while the poor
slid along, feeling their way by the
walls. In his edict of September, 1857,
the King provided that candles enclosed
In a 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 a bell. struck
by a Waterman, they we're lighted.
Paris was, however, considerably In
a'rance of other { les Of the world at
tnls time. In London link boys stood
about in public places, calling out in
lugubrious tones Gentlemen, a light !"
The origin Of the phrase, holding a
candle to you" ls somewhat doubtful,
but some authorities trace 1t to the
fact that as the small light stand had
not been devised anyone who desired
TO read in bed had 10 have a servant
stand beside him to hold the candle.
One cannot imagine that reading in bed
under these circumstances would b.
very enjoyable, certainly not to one
who has been accustomed to solitude
and a gas Jet easily turned on or off,
but there Is everything In habit.