LETTER XXVI. 



To the same. 



SELBORNE, Nov. is/, 1775. 



"Hie. . . . tceda pingues, hie plurimus ignis 

 Semper, et assidud postes fuligine nigri? 



EAR SIR, I shall make no apology for 

 troubling you with the detail of a very simple 

 piece of domestic economy, being satisfied that 

 you think nothing beneath your attention that 

 tends to utility ; the matter alluded to is the 

 use of rushes instead of candles, which I am 

 well aware prevails in many districts besides 

 this ; but as I know there are countries also where it does not 

 obtain, and as I have considered the subject with some degree 

 of exactness, I shall proceed in my humble story, and leave 

 you to judge of the expediency. 



The proper species of rush for this purpose seems to be the 

 juncus effusus, or common soft rush, which is to be found in 

 most moist pastures, by the sides of streams, and under hedges. 

 These rushes are in best condition in the height of summer ; 

 but may be gathered, so as to serve the purpose well, quite on 

 to autumn. It would be needless to add that the largest and 

 longest are best. Decayed labourers, women, and children, 

 make it their business to procure and prepare them. As soon 

 as they are cut, they must be flung into water, and kept there, 

 for otherwise they will dry and shrink, and the peel will not 

 run. At first a person would find it no easy matter to divest 

 a rush of its peel or rind, so as to leave one regular, narrow, 

 even rib from top to bottom that may support the pith ; but 

 this, like other feats, soon becomes familiar even to children ; 

 and we have seen an old woman, stone blind, performing this 



