Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-08-25

MEERscHAUM--Th;s article which is 30 much esteem.
ed by the tobacco smoker, hydraed silicate of
nesa but az the compound is not crystalline its
stituents variable scates otron and of alumni
ma with it these affect The color OF the meer-
sctanm, which, when pure, Is quite white. The pres
enco OF slicate OF iron impair tint varying from pale
yellow to deep brown. Good meerschaum soft enough
to be lndented by the thumb nail yields readily to
the knife especially after having been wetted. The
fracture is usually earthly, seldom corehodal.
The state OF aggregation is variable as to give
rise to various densities some kinds sink in water,
others oat on the surface those of medium density
preferred by the pipe maker tor the light vriees por-
ous and even cavernous and the heavy kind are often
made up artlhcially.
Most of the meeIscdsum is from Asia Minor 1t is
dug chiefly in tie penlusuas OF Nato, the town
Of Cohia ; but is also found In Spain, Greece and
MoFava 1t IS reported Ia the shape oirreguar blocks
with obtuse aDgts anu edges. Much care is required
10 removing the irregularities and faulty portions, and
even then 1t may contain various defects such as dit
e1eIt minerals diiused through it, end also hard
riety OF meereChaum, called by the manufacturer
" chalks, " which occasions much difficulty In the
carving
In some casts tie meerschaum is roughly fashioned
into bowls the spot where the material is dug and
ttey are more elegantly carved in Europe. PCsth aid
lenna were formerly celebrated for this manufacture.
In forming bowl the meerschaum is prepared for the
operation by soaking IN composition of wax, Oil and
fats The wax and oil absorbed by the meerschaum
are the cause of he color produced by smoking the
heat Of the burning tobacco the and fatty
substances to pass through the stages CT dry stila
ton, and becoming associated with the products OF the
distation of the tobacco di9used through the sub
stance OF the bowl and produce those gradaons OF tint
which are SO muca priced
In .some cases the bowls artifcialy stained BY
dipping them, before being soaked in wax, in a solution
OF suphae OF iror either alone mixed with dragon
blood The parlngs which are produced iu rougniny
cut the bOWls, are formed into What called massa
kopfe, or massa bowls; the parngs trturased to
fne powder, ooIled lii water, aud ulded into blocks
" Or without The addition of clay each block is then
cut luto bowl, but as 1t contracts considerably, IL
nlust be lett some time 20 dry.
There WAS foe DISPLAY OF mee o5auns il the Aus
trlan depar nent OF toe great exhibition. Composition
pipe bowls and segar tubes also exh bed Refer,
ring 20 these the jury port states that "hese bows
iistng from real mterschauu by ner great
specific gravity, but there is very certain test by
when the real neerschanm be distinguished from
tie composition, ana many snppss that ali heavier de-
scrp!ons arr Spurious though there Is no absolute
proof OF rnis heng the Case.
negative lest my, however be mentioned the
cCn position bowls exhibit those little biemishes
which result ircm the presece Of go bodies in the
batural meerschaum therefore, if d bIemsn in
The meerSchan bowl, which is very frequently the
Tie genuineness OF the bowl is rendered probable
hut 81 beus0cs do show until after the bowl has
be-u nsea for time, the tess of much value
I0mllnson's CycIopedl4 of Useful drts.