5S [Pioc. B.N.F.C, 



the tinder or touch-paper. Dr. Tidy remarks : " It is well 

 known that the tinder box was in use long before the age of 

 printing, and though phosphorus was discovered in 1669 by 

 Brandt, an alchemist, it was not until 1833 that phosphorus 

 matches became a commercial success." Regarding local 

 history or reference to rush-light candlesticks, I have not been 

 able to get much information. I have here a very old speci- 

 men of a local pocket tinder-box with small candle in it. In 

 August, 1804, an advertisement announcing the important 

 engagement of George Frederick Cooke at the Belfast Theatre, 

 mentions that the prices are raised, and that the house will 

 be illuminated by wax candles in lieu of the old tallow dips. 

 Gas was first used in Belfast Theatre on January 27th, 1824 — 

 two years preceeding Bowery Theatre, New York, though later 

 than in some English theatres. Benn, in his " History of 

 Belfast," says: " The lights must have been very bad in 1785, 

 as in that year an order was issued directing the inhabitants, 

 when an alarm of fire was raised, to place candles in their 

 windows to guide the steps of those who were running to 

 extinguish the flames." The late Rev. C. H. Spurgeon 

 delivered two very humorous lectures on candles, in which 

 many interesting items occur. In defining a candle he quotes 

 the Century Dictionary, which describes it as ''a taper, a 

 cylindrical body of tallow, wax, spermacetti, etc." Spurgeon 

 says : " This is all very well, but how much more we might 

 have known if the lexicographer had called a candle ' Nacent 

 possibilities of illumination materialized in oleaginous cylin- 

 drical form." " 



I now come to an important method of lighting, which 

 in Ireland is principally confined to the north-east portion and 

 adjacent islands. The Cruisies, very similar in form to the 

 various Roman specimens of bronze and terra-cotta, were no 

 doubt introduced by the Romans into England and Scotland, 

 and later brought over by Scottish fishermen to the north coast 

 of Ireland ; they are still in use on Rathlin Island. One fine 

 specimen shown here by Mr. Gallway, was seen in use by him in 

 Islandmagee. Mr. R. Bell has procured specimens of cruisies 



