FIRE AS AN AGENT IN HUMAN CULTXJEE 235 



Lamps formerly used by the settlers of America are instances of 

 the introduction of this utensil from various European countries. 

 They serve thus as historical clews and often preserve data which is 

 lacking in the countries of origin. Many specimens were brought 

 from Europe by immigrants and formed the basis for modifications 

 and improvements in America. 



In the United States there are many examples of extemporaneous 

 lamps. On the frontier grease lamps were made of a scooped-out 

 turnip in lieu of a saucer, also a sycamore seed ball was found to make 

 a good wick when placed in a dish of fat. An iron spoon bowl, the 

 tang sharpened and driven into an upright, formed a good lamp. 



ENGLISH 



The English type of iron crusie was early brought to America and 

 was in colonial times in common use. The crusie was an accompani- 

 ment of the open fireplace, where its smoke mingled with the smoke 

 of the cliimne}^. The English crusie had discarded the drip catcher 

 for the most part and had become a compact, workmanlike lamp. 

 At one period they evidently were made by a standard for trade, as 

 was the foot warmer. These crusies have a professional appearance. 



Tin upright lamps, with one or two tubes in the form of hand or 

 table lamps, were much used from colonial times down to 1830 or 

 thereabouts. Glass and pewter lamps, mainly for the table but 

 often small and duplicated in number for guest lamps at hotels, were 

 common. Frequently these lamps were merely the reservoir of glass 

 with peg base for setting in a candle socket and lighted on special 

 occasions. 



DUTCH 



Lamps brought to America by the Dutch colonists appear to have 

 left Uttle traces in common usages as to illumination. Such lamps 

 as may have come over are hardly to be distinguished from Belgian 

 specimens. 



BELGIAN 



Flemish lamps of brass, characterized by a slanting spout and drip 

 catcher mounted on a stem, were formerly somewhat in use m Amer- 

 ica. Identical specimens, one from Belgium and one from Ilhnois, 

 arrived at the National Museum the same day. 



FRENCH 



The principle contribution of lamps from France was during the 

 period of improved lamps using Argand's and other inventions. The 

 older forms, as the open crusie without drip catcher, were formerly 

 used in Louisiana, but few have been preserved. The pavilUon- 

 shaped Norman crusie and the north France miner's globular lamp 

 were introduced by immigrants together with other belongings, but 

 had httle use in the United States. 



