SC - Ambiance: Was : Cookery-Art or Science

[LrdRas@aol.com]

Hello the list!
	Alys-Catherine asked if others had problems with lighting- the
answer for me is yes- both directions. Too-bright flourescents are a
problem, and too-dim halls are a problem too. I was a a feast last night
where the autocrat would not make up her mind and the lights kept going  
on and off. They were rather mellow incandescents and I would've just as
soon left them on than strain my eyes. And the quantity of scented candles
were a problem too.
	But my question is a little more basic- since when does 'period'
have to mean dark? If we don't like to sit in the dark, why do we assume
that they did? There are so many illuminations (!) that show a great many
torches and many chandeliers (X-shaped ones in particular) that I can't
just assume that they ate in the dark of near-dark of candles on the
table. BTW, how many candles on the table do you see? Not many. Why? It
could be this simple- they ate the large meal of the day in the daytime,
not at night. It is our habits of eating after the sun has gone down (a
habit that is railed against as leading to debauchery in many a
theological treatise) that creates the need to greater lighting. Maybe we
should a) consider eating when they did, and/or b) learn more about period
lighting.

Sick, tired, and going back to bed,

'Lainie 
- -
Laura C. Minnick
University of Oregon
Department of English
- -
"Libraries have been the death of many great men, particularly the
Bodleian."
	Humfrey Wanley, c. 1731




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