Does Anyone Still Write Under Candles?

[Moagy]

We don't have the scenic bird perches.

 

But then you don't have said scenic birds using your car for target practice either!

 

Little..... (insert expletive here) !!

[pathobby]

Writing under candles is a bit like going to the dentist and him/her saying..

 

'Ah, as a special treat today I am going to use tools and techniques which are 100 years out of date. Open wide!'

 

PH

[tinta]

I need about 137 candles at my writing desk to "barely" make out what I'm doing.

Foot candles, that is (from a 100W incandescent Edison bulb).

Usually a Tri-Light reading lamp is also lit, to give more ambient light.

[Paddler]

I often use a dip pen and write by candle light. You will minimize unwanted shadows if you keep the candle holder short so the flame is as close to the writing surface as possible.

[fuchsiaprincess]

Sorry - value my hair too much!

 

How do you prevent your hair from getting singed?

[Paddler]

Sorry - value my hair too much!

 

How do you prevent your hair from getting singed?

 

You will only singe your hair once. After that, you will get a pair of reading glasses so you can sit farther from the candle.

[fuchsiaprincess]

Sorry - value my hair too much!

 

How do you prevent your hair from getting singed?

 

You will only singe your hair once. After that, you will get a pair of reading glasses so you can sit farther from the candle.

 

Thanks for the tip

[SamCapote]

I have a ceiling lamp over my work table with five 100W 20,000 hour incand bulbs and a rotating wall dimmer switch. It's a heavenly setup.

[Epistler]

Last year during a few-day power outage I found myself reading by candle light before bed. It really helped with sleep quality to be winding down without artificial light, and I was reminded of things that I have read about the negative influence on rest and hormone regulation that aritificial lighting in general, and evening computer use especially, have.

I came out of those few days thinking that maybe I should make it a regular practice to end the day with a period of candle-lit reading or writing, but I have not done so. I'm glad that I stumbled upon this thread; it might inspire me to give that another go. I do think that it was helpful for my restedness.

[N2theBreach]

Another one here who, during a power outage, did some reading, writing, and studying beside an oil lamp. And, like others, thought that I should do it more often. It was nice, and a bit nostalgic, if I had actually lived in time when that was the norm.

 

Unfortunately, it's a bit like taking an evening walk every night when you're on vacation, and saying, "This is so nice, we should keep it up when we get back home." How often does that actually happen?

[Shangas]

Only when there's a blackout. I've tried doing it in the past, but it's just not comfortable for me. At least, not without at least four candles.

 

Unfortunately, it's a bit like taking an evening walk every night when you're on vacation, and saying, "This is so nice, we should keep it up when we get back home." How often does that actually happen?

 

My parents do that.

[white_feather]

Two summers ago when my apartment lease was up I decided not to renew it since my wife was traveling back to California for the summer. I set up a tent in my friends backyard and lived in it. The only thing that I did use outside of the tent was his shower to clean up after work. Other than that I contained myself solely in the tent. I had a cot in there. I had a box with my clothes in it set up so that the clothes would come out of the front. I put a Dietz Little Wizard kerosene lamp on it once it got dark and wrote about each days experience. Some times there was very little to write about, other days there was a great deal to write about. I had a rare globe on the lantern. It was all original, it was a red glaze like paint with a small gap about one half inch or so that was clear that would shine enough light onto the paper that I could write easily. I have a small collection of kerosene and Coleman lanterns that I have often used to write with. Spending four months in that tent taught me so much about myself that I would love to do it again and I actually pan to do it one of the next upcoming summers albeit in my own back yard now that I bought a small mobile home. In the near future I plan to semi-retire and travel the country in a motorhome that I will eventually inherit from my father. That should be an experience in and of itself.

[whitelily]

I do it every great once in a while, when a storm knocks the power out. On the downside, the dim, flickering light can get wearing on the eyes, and you'll have to trust your memory as to ink color. On the upside, the small circle of light and lack of electrically-powered distractions can help your concentration. I'd recommend white candles, as the wax itself will thus absorb less of the available light.

 

Not a romantic take, but there you go -- to those who grew up writing by candlelight, everything succeeding it was considered a huge boon.

 

+ 1. I do that too when the electricity is out, it´s really cosy, but your eyes tire much faster. I think a good solution is to just dim the lights, so you still have enough to see properly and then have candles burn on your desk giving some extra light.

 

I agree with the cat-comment too. I´m very careful nowadays which candles I light - don´t want to get some bushy tails go up in flames.