A Simple Life, Summer, 2010
Early America’s deep darkness was pierced only by firelight, most commonly by candles. For more than 200 years, candles illuminated thousands of isolated homesteads and lighted the way along rutted roads and paths. In candlesticks and lanterns, these slim, waxy spires conquered the nighttime. This article explains the invention, convenience, and inconvenience of one of history’s most important household necessities.