Smyrna times., 1908-03-18
AN ODD CANDLESTICK.
With a Curious Reach of the Long
Arm of Coincidence.

WIN CURIOUS Rsaca OF Cne Long
Arm of Coincidence.
Historical students when called upon
to criticise relations of events. especial
L. those that seem in themselves un-
likely. that are recorded to have hap
pened in the lives of persons whose
careers are separated by long period
Of time when the said events have a
very striking similarity between them
are wont to regard the first narrative
as the prototype and the latter as a
case of transference. Sometimes this
may lie the correct view to take. but
it is commonly dangerous proceeding
to insist upon. An example has oc-
cured to me which illustrates this.
At East ButtcrWick, a village on the
banks of the Trent, there lived in the
middle Of the nineteenth century a
shopkeeper named Marshall. He was
a general dealer, supplying nearly all
the wants of his neighbors. Above
this mans shop and adjoining out
houses was a long chamber open to the
roof in which he kept such stores as
he had not room for in his somewhat
small shop. Among other things. this
room contained 4 mangle, which was
at the service of such OF the women of
the town as made him small pay
ment.
One winter evening several women
were engaged in mangling when one
Of them knocked down their solitary
candestick. and, being probably of
earthenware. it was broken. Work
for the night was nearly over. 1t did
not seem worth while TO fetch another
SO one Of the women took the still
burning candle-happily it was not Il
very short One-and stuck it into some
black, dusty looking stuff which she
had noticed in a barrel standing near
Soon, however, one of these good
DANES had occasion to descend into
the shop and, encountering Marshall
there, naturally began to apologize for
the candlesticl having suffered.
We may conceive what was the shop
keepers horror when he heard what
was the substitute that had been found
for he knew at once that the candle
was standing in a cask of gunpoWder
lie rushed upstairs and was Just in
time. He made "A cup with his two
hands" as he said. so that no sparks
could get to the powder" and drew
the candle calmly out without uttering
sound. His words afterWard when
all danger was over were. | have been
told, of Kind not uncOmmony heard
on board of keels and coal barges on
our rivers but such as are discouraged
elsewhere
In the year 1861 The Dispositions
From the Castle of York In the Seven
teenth Century was published by the
Surtoes society. In a note in thi; work
by its editor, Canon Raine. the follow
ing passage occurs. The plrallelism
between the two narratives as to the
way the candle was removed from dan
ger is very striking:
Newcastle had very narrow escape
about 1854. An apprentice going up
with a candle into loft which con
tanned many barrels of gunpowder and
much .cOmbustible material thought
leSSly stuck the candle into a barrel. Of
which the head had been knocked off
to serve for Il candlestick He saw the
danger and fed. \ lahOrer ran into
the loft and. joining both his hands to-
gether, drew the candle softly up be-
tween his middlemost fingers. so thar
if any snuff had dropped it must have
fallen into the hollow of the mans
nd."-London Notes and Queries.