Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume III.djvu/709

CANDLE slabs. The candles are sometimes shaped by drawing them through a machine made for the purpose, as wire is drawn. There is a difficulty in moulding wax candles, owing to the substance adhering to the interior surface of the mould. Moulds of glass, however, have been success- fully used, greater strength and security being given to them by incasing each one in a tube of gutta percha. By dipping them for an in- stant in hot water, the glass expands sufficient- ly to free the candle, which should be extracted as the mould comes out of the water. Wax requires smaller wicks than other candles, and they should be made of twisted Turkey cotton unbleached. The large wax candles used in Roman Catholic churches are made by rolling a sheet of wax placed upon a slab over the wick laid down upon it, and then giving shape to them by rolling in the usual way between marble slabs. Coloring matters similar to those used for coloring spermaceti candles may first be melted into the wax. Paraffine candles are not yet prepared upon a large scale, but the practicability of obtaining from bituminous coals a large amount of oil from which this beautiful material for candles may be extracted, has been fully established. It is a true chemi- cal compound of carbon and hydrogen, in those atomic proportions which appear most suitable for producing the best light. Candle wicks have been the subject of special attention on the part of the manufacturers. It is found that the more perfect the wick, and the better adapt- ed it is to the particular kind of candle, the more brilliant is the light and the less the consump- tion of material. The coarse threads used for tallow candles raise the melted grease to very little height, and are soon covered with a burr of carbonaceous matter, which must be removed by frequent snuffing. "Wicks of finer threads have a greater capillary action, and require less snuffing. So long as the threads of the wick remain in the body of the flame, they are protected from the action of the oxy- gen of the air, and the material is charred with- out being consumed. By turning the top of the wick to one side, so as to project from the flame, the light is no longer obscured by this burr, which soon disappears by its combining with oxygen. The plaited or braided wicks were contrived to efl'ect this result, the plaits opening at the top and spreading out to the edge of the flame. A twist has been given to wicks by winding them around a cylin- der, and in this state saturating them with the melted material; after being drawn out and stretched in the candle, they still retain the tendency to assume the spiral form, and as the candle is consumed, the end of the wick coils out from the flame and is burned without obstructing the light. Wicks made of two parts twisted in opposite direc- tions and wrapped around with a fine thread are also used. Other expedients have been devised to effect the same purpose ; and in- genious and expensive machinery is in use in CANDLISII 699 large candle factories for the manufacture of wicks alone. CANDLEMAS, the Roman Catholic festival of the purification of the Virgin Mary, Feb. 2, so called because the tapers and caudles used in the church throughout the year are con- secrated on this day. The festival is of great antiquity. CANDLEJiCT (aleurites triloba), a tree of the family euphorbiacea. Flowers showy, in thyrsi ; fruit a nut about two inches in diame- ter. It is 20 to 30 ft. high, wide-spreading, the leaf trilobed or near the ends of the branches, entire, of a light green color. The wood is soft and easily worked. The inner nut has a very hard shell, within which the meat is often preserved for many years ; it is good eating, but rather rich ; the oil is easily expressed, and Candlenut Leaves and Flowers. is imported into England for candle making. As a drying oil it ranks among the best, and commands about the same price as sesame or rape oil. The tree is cultivated or grows wild throughout the Pacific islands, India, Japan, and S. E. Asia. The Hawaiians string the kernels of the nuts on slender strips of bamboo, and light them as candles; they burn well and clearly, with a peculiar but pleasant odor. CANDLISII, Robert Smith, D. I)., a Scottish clergyman, born in Edinburgh, March 23, 1807. He was educated at Glasgow, was pri- vate tutor at Eton, and in 1829 became minister of St. Andrew's, Glasgow, and subsequently at Bonhill, whence he was transferred to the parish of St. George, Edinburgh. In 1839 he took a prominent part in the debates of the Scottish general assembly ; and when the dis- ruption occurred in 1843 he left the kirk for the Free church, of which in 1846 he was ap- pointed convener. In 1847 he succeeded Dr. Chalmers as professor of divinity in New col- lege, Edinburgh, of which he subsequently became principal. He has written several works, mostly expositions of the Bible, and has been a frequent contributor to religious periodi-