210 BULLETIN 139, UNITED STATES NATIONAL. MUSEUM 



In America the taper was called during the Civil War, "Confederate 

 candle," and because the light required frequent attention the humor- 

 ous slaves dubbed them "pull ups." Dr. C. A. Q. Norton relates 

 that during the Civil War he attended a dance in a hall lighted with 

 coiled tapers. Tapers are still used in the mountains of Virginia and 

 are sometimes elaborately wound in ornamental patterns (pi. 33, fig. 

 10) . Tapers were presumably introduced into the colony from Eng- 

 land, where this form of lighting was well known among the peas- 

 antry. The coiled taper was widely used in Europe and is still com- 

 mon in Russia. It is found in use in the Catholic churches in Latin 

 countries. Many artistic forms of taper holders were formerly found 

 on writing cabinets in employment for sealing letters. 



The second form is the familiar rigid candle, a lighting device of 

 respectable antiquity. The Romans are said to have sometimes made 

 candles by dipping strings of papyrus or rushes in pitch and surround- 

 ing them with wax. Pliny says that wax and tallow candles were 

 employed in religious offices. 



In northern Europe the rush was found to be an ideal wick for the 

 candle, and rush candles became well known. Previously also the 

 rush was partially peeled and soaked in fat, making the rushlight 

 approach the taper class. Holders for the rush were known as rush 

 clips. In Ireland a splint of bog fir dipped with tallow was said to 

 have been used as a candle. 



Another species of candle is found in Korea, Japan, China, and 

 adjacent countries. The wick is of rush pith wound on a straw or 

 twisted paper spill. A slender tapering stick or splint of bamboo is 

 run through the tubular spill and a mass of fat formed over it. In 

 Canton these candles are called lobstocks. In Korea and Tibet the 

 supporting stick extends below the candle for convenience in carry- 

 ing and for placing in a candlestick. A ruder candle of this sort is 

 from Mongoha (pi. 33, fig. 9). 



At the time when chemical and industrial science had perfected 

 and had rendered the candle a relatively important factor of civili- 

 zation other discoveries in illumination automatically thrust it into a 

 lower place. Conservatism of custom, particular needs and demands 

 not formerly reckoned with, as art, have prevented the candle from 

 becoming obsolete. At present the candle enters into the scheme of 

 illumination as a wasteful method but gratifying the esthetic sense. 



It is concluded that the candle is an invention belonging in an ad- 

 vanced plane of culture, hence presence of the candle among uncivi- 

 lized tribes is to be looked upon with suspicion of extra origin. The 

 Tapuyos of Brazil use tapers of beeswax and bark fiber.^* Dr. Daniel 

 G. Brinton says: "If this is one of their ancient arts, it is the only 



" J. Von Tschudi. Reise in Sud Amerika, vol. 2, Leipzig, 1866-1869, p. 281. 



