Light a small _green_ wax-taper; in a minute or two, blow out the
flame, and the wick will continue red-hot for many hours; and, if the
taper were regularly and carefully uncoiled, and the room kept free
from currents of air, the wick would burn on in this manner until the
whole taper were consumed. The same effect is not produced when the
colour of the wax is red, on which account, red wax-tapers are safer
than green; for the latter, if left imperfectly extinguished, may set
fire to any object with which they are in contact.