Did they put marbles in the bottom of old oil lamps to keep them from falling over?
Oil lamps are much heavier when they are only 1/2 full of kerosene. And the weight of the marbles verses the weight of the kerosene is probably not much different.
Now me thinks it was either a kid that put the marbles in the lamp base ..... or a very clever person solving
an emergency situation.
Iffen one didn't have any more kerosene ...... and the wick was too short to reach the kerosene level in the lamp ...... and it was past dark and the ghosts n' goblins were starting to come out n' about, ....... then a handful of marbles added to the kerosene in the lamp would raise the kerosene level up so that the wick would suck it up and the lamp could be lit.
Maybe not lit for very long, ....... but long enough to getya to that little shack out back .... and then back.