THE RUSH-LIGHT IN NOETH WALES. 

 Bt C. lb neve foster, B.A., D.Sc. 



In these days, when tallow candles have been replaced to a 

 great extent by those of stearine, paraffin, and ozokerit, or have 

 been driven out altogether by mineral oils and gas, it seems 

 strange that the humble rush-light should still linger in some 

 of the farm houses of North Wales. Such however is the case, 

 and before this old-fashioned illuminant is quite extinct, it may 

 be well to preserve a record of it, especially as it differs from the 

 rush-light used in England within my recollection. This was a 

 thin tallow candle with a rush wick, placed in a candlestick 

 surrounded for safety by wire gauze ; it has long been discarded 

 for the more convenient night-light. The Welsh rush-light is 

 a taper about 2 feet long, made from the common rush or sedge ; 

 the outer skin is peeled off with the exception of a narrow strip 

 left for strength, and the pith is drawn through fat melted in a 

 frying pan or any other suitable vessel. The spongy pith 

 absorbs the fat readily, but it does not receive an outer coating 

 of tallow. It is burnt in a simple candlestick, which holds the 

 taper in any position, and allows it to be shifted readily as it 

 burns down. The candlestick which I send to the Eoyal 

 Institution was kindly procured for me by Mr. G-. J. Williams, 

 of Blaenau Testiniog ; it has been in use for four generations. 



The length of time a taper will burn depends upon the 

 angle at which it is set in the candlestick. I find that a well- 

 made taper set at an angle of 45° will burn at the rate of 1 foot 

 in 20 to 30 minutes. 



Though primitive, the rush-light taper must not be despised, 

 for it possesses certain advantages. In the first place it can be 

 made very cheaply, children can pick and peel the rushes, and 

 the fat used is a product of the farm. All waste fat from sheep 

 or pigs is collected, and when enough has accumulated it is 

 boiled down for use. Secondly, it requires no snuffing like an 

 ordinary tallow candle ; and thirdly, no grease drops about when 

 it is carried. 



