| Here's some astonishing facts about candle | | | | by reading; with candle light). Increased reading led |
| making history. | | | | to more literacy and more learning which then led |
| Ben Franklin discovered electricity in 1752 and as | | | | to an industrial revolution. So the increase in light |
| recently as 1879 Thomas Edison invented the light | | | | dramatically changed the world. |
| bulb and got a patent for it in 1880. It took off | | | | Going back to Ben Franklin, he was one of the |
| shortly after it was invented and by the early | | | | writers and signers of the Declaration of |
| 1900s was in common use world wide. That's only | | | | Independence. The adoption of this Declaration on |
| a little more then a hundred years ago which is | | | | July 4th, 1776 is the birth of the United States of |
| the blink of an eye when compared man's | | | | America and July 4th is celebrated every year as |
| existence on earth. Only a few years prior to the | | | | Independence Day. Do you realize our Declaration, |
| light bulb, but still in the 1800s streets were lit up | | | | which was only written in the 1700s was before |
| at night with street lamps using gas. | | | | the light bulb and it must have been partially |
| But before the 1800s and going way back in | | | | written by candle light, at least any writing that |
| human history illuminating the night was very | | | | was done in the evening. And our Congress that |
| ineffective. There were candles, torches and oil | | | | adopted the Declaration must have used candles |
| lamps and oil lamps weren't the greatest thing for | | | | to see with. All these important congress men |
| indoor use as it left a residue of soot on | | | | gathered together discussing important issues |
| everything. Not very nice. We won't even talk | | | | concerning the country using candles. It seems |
| about bringing a torch indoors (ha, can you | | | | unthinkable now. Congress uses light today but |
| imagine). So candles were the usual way of lighting | | | | they just throw a switch and without that their |
| up the indoors which was fairly ineffective. | | | | chamber would be dark even in the day time. It |
| Did it really change the world going from candles | | | | sort of makes you realize what a huge day to |
| to light bulbs and if so; how many light bulbs does | | | | day challenge a simple thing like lighting was only a |
| it take to change a planet (HA)? I can't tell you | | | | few short years ago (in terms of human history) |
| how many light bulbs it took but yes they | | | | and how we just take lighting so for granted |
| dramatically changed the world and made it what | | | | these days. |
| it is today. | | | | And little did Ben Franklin know that his discovery |
| Prior to the brighter lights of gas and electricity | | | | of electricity would soon be used to light up the |
| factories were closing down when it got dark. | | | | whole world. It's also ironic that Ben Franklin also |
| And in the winter time that left only a few short | | | | invented the street lamp. It just took a little time |
| hours of production. With the brighter light | | | | for his electricity to be hooked up to his street |
| factories were now able to stay open as long as | | | | lamp to light up the world. Wow isn't that |
| they wanted, even 24 hours which put factory | | | | something? Hey thanks for the light Ben. |
| production through the roof. The brighter light | | | | This article started out on candle making history |
| took the limits off of production. And further, with | | | | but it really didn't stray from the subject. The |
| brighter lighting at home it was much easier for | | | | transition from candles to electric lights is a |
| people to read so they read longer (remember | | | | significant turning point in candle making history |
| TV and radio weren't around in the olden days | | | | certainly worthy of one small article on the |
| (not long ago actually) so people passed the time | | | | subject. |