486 ON TROPICAL FIBRES. 



same certainty of purpose which, distinguishes all his enterprises. 

 Nothing in the world is more unseemly than to see in rich candelabra 

 with costly carvings, or even in small delicate porcelain candlesticks 

 finely painted, thick ugly candles, very unjustly called wax candles, 

 yellowish and dropping grease, with a shrivelled-up wick, emitting with 

 an unpleasant smoke an insipid and repulsive odour. 



Exaggerating the contrary idea, the manufactory of Clichy has had 

 the foolish prodigality to paint on the candles some chefs d'ceuvre, signed 

 by the best names of the manufactory of Sevres ; the ever-to-be-regretted 

 Mine. Laurent, and other artists of talent, have executed charming 

 subjects on stearine. But we must not forget that ornamental painting 

 has its laws. Execute on the candle ornaments of every kind — flowers, 

 birds, chimeras, but do not trace portraits thereon. Nothing can be 

 more tasteful — nothing more simple and more natural than to have on 

 the candle of which you make use your armorial bearings, if you have 

 inherited them from your ancestors — your figure when you can draw one, 

 or, at least, choose it well. This kind of ornamenting is still expensive, 

 but researches actively and cleverly conducted will soon lead to a re- 

 duction in the cost, which will generalise the custom in every house- 

 priding itself on elegance. 



TROPICAL FIBRES, 



BY E. G. SQUIER. 



No person from northern latitudes can long reside in tropical 

 countries, particularly in tropical America, without being struck with 

 the number and variety of endogenous plants, such as the agaves, pine- 

 apples, plantains, and palms, which form a characteristic, and to 

 northern eyes, a novel feature in every landscape. If of an observant 

 and inquiring turn of mind, the traveller will soon be brought to reflect 

 on the economic value of these plants, and their thousand useful appli- 

 cations in supplying human wants. He will discover that they not only 

 furnish staple articles of food, oil, and refreshing as well as intoxicating 

 drinks, but also that they are the productive sources of valuable fibres, 

 of every degree of fineness and strength, and fit for the most delicate 

 tissues as well as for the strongest cables. He will find that the ham- 

 mock in which he reclines is netted from a material almost as fine and 

 soft as silk, and will probably be surprised to learn that it is supplied 

 from the leaves of the wild pineapple, which he sees every where forming 

 the hedges of enclosures, and scattered thickly through the forests. He 

 will find the native boats rigged with cordage of superior description, 

 and will be told that it has been procured from the agaves or " henne- 



