The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-01-09

light except that from the moon
stars. sun. and lightning.
Burning forests lighting up the
sky showed man that hre also gave
light.
Burning branches. fagots and PUSHES
were the means OF illumination for
primitive man.
The semi-ssyage early Inhabitants
OF early Britton improved upon thus
method by sticking fat bodies OF birds
or animals on stakes. The semi-ciV-
llized man attempted TO provide CON
veniences ahead of his immediate
needs. ~, provided candles OF re-
siuous silver or fsgots. fastened TO-
geiher. and carried or set up a.
torches. as those used in the arenas
Of ancient Greece.
Queer holders were then. made 10
hold these sticks, Rnd burning IN
households were the forerunners OF
the candlesticks OF later date.
WOMAN PLAYS PART.
Here woman plays A part. They
creased sticks with animal fats TO
provide brighter illumination there
by approaching a step near the candle.
II may seem odd that the lamp and
not the candle followed the torch In
line OF development. but such Was the
case. The prototype OF the lamp WAS
the oil bag such as the kwakulul In
dams OF British Columbia used. from
which TO throw oil upon the hre Tor
temporary illumination.
A rough stone followed out by ma
ture through the action OF water was
the first lamp. Animal oil was placed
in the cavity, and a wick laid along
the edge.
beach STONES Used.
Shell or artirrial hollowsd-out beach
stones were used for lamps by the
Eskimos, while In India and Syria
terra Gotta saucers with the edge
pinched up into gutter for the WICK
were used.
After this came the early pottery
lamp with the reservoir covered over
and a spout provided for the WICK
These lamps. used In ancient Tome
marked the dawn OF the Christian era.
From before the Christian era ana up
to within the last century this same
style of lamp made OF metal was used
in various forms.
This is the type lamp Aladdin is
said to have used to call the genie TO
do his bidding--not as an illuminating
lamp.
While the lamp was being devel-
oped. the candle came into use. Its
frst form was a mass OF fat with the
wick wrapped around the outside.
Wax tapers made by dipping were
first used in the ninth century Inc
earliest tallow candle, introduced IN
the thirteenth century was also MADE
by dipping Tapers and candles were
in a few palaces and wealthy noble
mems homes in the fourteenth CEN
fury. but were too expensive for the
ordinary people. Our great grand
mothers made their own candles ior
household illumination.
SULPHUR MATCHES IN 1880.
Many queer lamps of varied designs
for burning different kinds OF N'Ge
table and animal oils, fish oil. and
whale oil. etc, followed up TO the
middle OF the last century.
InlS3O sulphur matches wer" intro
,luced. Up to this time fire was OBJ
tanned by striking steel against mint
and catching the sparks in finder.
The forerunner of the street light
was bracket torch fastened TO
building at a street corner. or iater'
swinging by chain across the street
and filed with pine knots.
Early in the nineteenth century
Illuminating gas became popular.
The celebrated lamp VI VI so"'' "a.
French inventor. in 1887, with a chim-
ney and direct draft to the flame was
the forcrunner of the coal OIL lamp
whiah our grandparents used. NOT
until 1850 did the coal oil lamp as we
know il today come into use.
ELECTRICITY DISCOVERED.
During all this time the mysterious
mower Of electricity which had mani
tested itself in the form of lightning
remained Embarrassed. Early in the
nineteenth century it was discovered
and made to give for brilliant hght
in the first form of electric illumina-
ton. the arc. Not until 1853, now
ever. was the new discovery actually