Alex Sapoznik

The effect was to really very, very severely limit the use of candle wax.

The data bear that out.

So if we can put the cost of wax into perspective, if we express it as an agricultural laborer's wage, then we would say that the price of a pound of wax fell from just over five days' work in 1300.

to just two and a half days by 1354.

But then it falls even further so that by 1544, so after the Reformation, it's less than one day's labor to be able to afford that same pound of wax.

And then we stare at each other blankly while wondering what to do.

But I didn't say that.