The Lights of Olden

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 4, 24 January 1907, Page 7

The Lights of Olden

The . sconce- and the "lantern were in general use "throughout the . Middle', Ages, says l Gus Logic' The sconce was" a light, conveyed and- guarded .from the wind,' lifted down by the handle, and distinct from' the lantern, serving somewhat the same purpose, -but- hung by a chatu.

Lanterns in the thirteenth century were made of gold, silver, copper, or iron, according to the means of the owner. The light in the latter was shielded from the wind by thin sheets • of liorn. Lantern "makingjwas an .important industry in Paris. - . Noblemen and rich merchants took to having luxuri- . ous little travelling equipments made . for them, and among these . were travelling candlesticks and wash ~ basins in fine enamelled work, the secret of which is now,, lost. _ . , - - ~, , „ - The- custom of having seivants carry flambeaux at festivals also became -general about this time, and a strange and tragic incident is connected - with this fashion. At "a ball given by Oharles < VI. the torches carried by some careless servants came too near the head dresses ot certain persons dressed as savages and set tnem on fire. The unfortunate guests -were' burned -to death, and the King, ai the sight, lost his reason, a madness which had a , serious, effect on the history of France. - "• --"->- " -" ' - r .-:--•;'_—■• .- Magic lanterns were invented at the time of -King Francis I." A device on a. somewhat similar plan was used as a sign before shop doors to attract custom. Lamps fell into disfavor atjthe beginning of the seventeenth century, and were only, used "by the -"poor and - iii passages .and stables where the smoke could evaporate and a great deal of light" was 'needed. Candles then reached their perfection, arid candlesticks -their— most exquisite form. .A ' candlestick of crystal ".given by- Louis-XIV. to' La Valliere^is still- in exist- - ence, and .it was at this time, also, that the" crystal pendants" came into fashion. , Street illumination .was not seriously attempted in Paris - until the middle of the seventeenth century. In the first years of that notable", century streets of Paris were dark. The rich were escorted by lackeys bearing torches, the middle-class folks' picked their wav lantern in hand, while the. poor slid- along, feeling their _way by"' the walls, yln his edict " ot September, 1667, " the " King' provided, that candles inclosed .in "a ' cage of "glass should .be hung - by. cords at the" height of the first story of '~ the house, • .tEree lanterns for every street, one at each end and • one in" -the middle. At the sound of a bell, struck by a watchman, they were - lighted.- . - . _. . '