28 THE WONDERFUL CENTURY. CHAP. iv. 



fibrous wick; and, somewhat later, rushlights and 

 candles. Still later, vegetable oils were used for lamps, 

 and wax candles; but the three modes of obtaining 

 illumination for domestic purposes remained entirely un- 

 changed in principle, and very little improved, through- 

 out the whole period of history down to the end of the 

 eighteenth century. The Greek and Roman lamps, 

 though in beautiful receptacles of bronze or silver, were 

 exactly the same in principle as those of the lowest sav- 

 age, and hardly better in light-giving power ; and though 

 various improvements in form were introduced, the first 

 really important advance was made by the Argand 

 burner. This introduced a current of air into the center 

 of the flame as well as outside it, and, by means of a 

 glass chimney, a regular supply of air was kept up, and 

 a steady light produced. Although the invention was 

 made at the end of the last century the lamps were not 

 sufficiently improved and cheapened to come into use till 

 about 1830; and from that time onward many other im- 

 provements were made, chiefly dependent on the use of 

 the cheap mineral oils, rendering lamps so inexpensive, 

 and producing so good a light, that they are now found 

 in the poorest cottages. 



The only important improvement in candles is due to 

 the use of paraffin fats instead of tallow, and of flat 

 plaited wicks which are consumed by the flame. In my 

 boyhood, the now extinct " snuffers " were in universal 

 use, from the common rough iron article in the kitchen 

 to elaborate polished steel spring-snuffers of various 

 makes for the parlor, with pretty metal or papier-mache 

 trays for them to stand in. Candles are still very largely 

 used, being more portable and safer than most of the 



