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Of all the arrangements trying to the souls of good housekeepers, the dropping of grease is, perhaps, the worst. Dwellers in cities, who, for the most part, use gas lights, do not, perhaps, appreciate the advantages possessed by them over those in rural districts, where, even people who employ kerosene lamps, are obliged to resort, more or less, to candles. It is to obviate the dropping of grease, and to also furnish a means of holding, firmly and vertically, candles of different sizes, that the simple device, illustrated in our engraving, has been perfected. It consists in the application if a cup to the ordinary candle' stick, with hollow stem, to hold the candle, and which, also, is inserted into the candlestick, in the manner shown in the engraving, together with a spring clasp attached to the edge of the cup,which grasps the candle and holds it in a perfectly upright position. Each arm of the clasp is provided with a concave piece of metal, at the inner end, which closes upon the candle, and the outer end is formed into a thumb-piece. The pressing of the thumb-pieces together releases the candle. To adapt the improvement to use on Christmas trees, etc., the lower end of the hollow stem which supports the grease cup is slotted as shown in the detail at the left of the engraving. A small cylinder of wood with pins projecting radially, fastened by a screw to the limbs of the tree or place where it is desirable to fix the cup, forms a convenient attachment. The slots in the lower part of the hollow stem engage with the pins in the wooden support in such a manner that they are locked together. The attachment of the clasp or candle holder is made to a ring at the top of the grease cup which may be. unscrewed for convenience in cleaning. Its application to chandeliers where wax candles are used will also suggest itself. This invention is the conception of ?. (t. Ault, of Dundas, Rice Co., Minnesota, who may be addressed for the entire right, or for rights to manufacture on royalty.
