CHAPTER II MAN AND FIRE Snuffers-Tinder Boxes-Tobacco Boxes-Tobacco Stoppers-Tobacco Graters-Bellows. COLLECTORS have specialized in a field which may be said to cover man's governance and employment of fire, and the "rare obsolete methods of holding Light, and Lamps illustrating the various means of getting Oil to the Wick," to quote the sale catalogue at the dispersal of the collection of the late Mr. Edward Bidwell, which embraced candlesticks, rush-holders, tinder boxes, pipes, and matches. One item reads "An original box of 'R. Bell's Improved Lucifers,' containing thirty matches and original sandpaper. R. Bell commenced business in 1832, and these were the first form of matches he produced. Exceedingly rare." There is no doubt that there is considerable archæological interest in such a collection carefully and quietly gathered together. There are hanging lamps of various forms, brass and iron lamps from Roman days down to the Scotch crusie. The collection referred to included Scandinavian, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and even an Eskimo lamp cut in soapstone. Lanterns of all countries would be a life study for a zealous collector. In the Far East, in China especially, he would be richly rewarded; in glass mosque lamps of exquisite beauty of the nearer East, the late Mr. Pierpont Morgan has forestalled him. Man's worship of fire and its use is an illimitable subject. He has used fire, as in hashish and opium smoking, to pander to his vices. His smoking of tobacco suggests at once as a collector's subject the various pipes he used, and to this may be added the utensils in connection with the habit, the tobacco stoppers he employed with his pipe, and the tobacco rapes or rasps he used to manufacture rape or snuff. In pursuing his hobby the zealous collector would be led deeper and deeper into his subject. He would search for old advertisements concerning the noxious weed; he would find a kindly interest in King James's Counterblast against Tobacco. He would become a connoisseur in hookahs, in chibouks and narghiles; his study might lead him into bye-paths where the notes by Richard Burton in his edition of the Arabian Nights might be of value to him. Man and fire is the guiding light of the votary. He may diverge into fire worship and follow the Parsees from Persia to India, and become immersed in the beliefs and practices of the sun SNUFFERS. English. Eighteenth century. Iron example early form in common use. Sheffield plated example with square box, receptacle and feet. SHEFFIELD PLATED SNUFFERS AND TRAY. Showing snuffers with feet, at blades and handles, for use with tray. (In possession of A. E. Smith, Esq.) Portuguese, and even an Eskimo lamp cut in soapstone. Lanterns of all countries would be a life study for a zealous collector. In the Far East, in China especially, he would be richly rewarded; in glass mosque lamps of exquisite beauty of the nearer East, the late Mr. Pierpont Morgan has forestalled him. Man's worship of fire and its use is an illimitable subject. He has used fire, as in hashish and opium smoking, to pander to his vices. His smoking of tobacco suggests at once as a collector's subject the various pipes he used, and to this may be added the utensils in connection with the habit, the tobacco stoppers he employed with his pipe, and the tobacco rapes or rasps he used to manufacture rape or snuff. In pursuing his hobby the zealous collector would be led deeper and deeper into his subject. He would search for old advertisements concerning the noxious weed; he would find a kindly interest in King James's Counterblast against Tobacco. He would become a connoisseur in hookahs, in chibouks and narghiles; his study might lead him into bye-paths where the notes by Richard Burton in his edition of the Arabian Nights might be of value to him. Man and fire is the guiding light of the votary. He may diverge into fire worship and follow the Parsees from Persia to India, and become immersed in the beliefs and practices of the sun |