The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-10-14

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After having said SO much about
meerschaum pipes, it may not be
out of place to say something
about where the material comes
from, and how it is manufactured.
| Meerschaum is 4 kind ofclay, COM
posed Of hydrate of magnesia and
slick, or, more properly, hydrous
silicate Of macncsia. It is found
3 in beds in various parts Of Europe,
but particularly in AnatoIla, in
Asia Minor. When first taken
: from the earth it is soft, but har-
dens upon exposure TO the air. 1t
is imported into this country in
; Jumps Of various sizes. The best
is called spiegel, or mirror meer-
schaum, which is Of BLUSH tinge,
aud its surface is covered with
star. shaped fiecks. There are six
teen different qualities Of meer-
schaum, the first six of which
only arc imported into this coun-
try. The first, second and third
qualities are used by the manu-
t;lcturers in making pipes, and the
fourth, fifth and sixth in repairs or
; additions to imported pipes Of a
corresponding class. The process
of manufacture is very simple
The block of meerschaum is first
soaked in water until it arrives at
a proper degree Of softncss, it is
then taken by the workman, who
, shapes it with q knife, and the
? bowl, if intended to be round, is
bored and turned on a lathe. The
hole in the stem is then made, and
the pipe is turned over 20 q girl,
who smooths it first with sand
PAPER and afterward with a kind
of grass brought from Massachu
setts, which is called "shave grass"
possibly on account of cutting
properties. The pipe is then boil
ed in a preparation of wax, and pol
ished with a soft cloth. Carved
pipes are made somewhat differ
emily. The carving is first done
roughly, only shaped, as it were,
and the meerschaum is boiled, and
the carving is afterward complet'
ed. 1t is thcu boiled again, or left
white at the option of the smoker.
The parings Of the meerschaum,
called "chips," are not used in this
country, but are shipped back to
Germany, where they are made
into imitation meerschaum. They
are also used to remove grease
spots from silk, being ground into
powder, which, mixed with water
to the consistency of cream, is
used, for the purpose in the same
manner as fuller's earth.
The meerscbaum pipe trade in
New York is a fourishing instltu-
ton, and all the manufacturers do
good business. One of them
sent specimens Of his workman
ship to Paris to the exhibition Of
1867, and received a bronze medal
and diploma. 1t may be proper
80 say that bronze medal is the
highest prize awarded to this class
of goods: gold medals being given
only for inventions and devices OF
benefit to humanity, and not to
articles of ornament or luxury
This gentleman, before ne was
given the prize be had earned,
was obliged to furnish afidavits
from responsible gentlemen in this
city to prove that the work had
been done here. He exhibited
some thirty pieces in all, one of
which, superb pipe, with group
representing Macbeth's encounter
with the witches on the heath,
composed Of five figures, two OF
which, Macbeth and Banquo, are
mounted, excited universal admlra-
ton. II also has afgure OF Shak-
spcare, seated in an arm-c chair, on
the lid or cover. Ten thousand
francs wero offered for this pipe
in Paris, but were refused by the
exhibitor, as he wanted to exhibit
| it in this country, having had no
opportunity to do so previously,
as it had been completed only a
few days before the sailing Of the
United States steamer which car
ricd the goods of the American en-
hibitors.
One of the greatest pipe-fanciers
in the world-Majo ajor-General Raj
falovich, of the Russian army, is
now in this country. lie has a
collection Of more than 900 pipes.
Since be has been in this country
he has purchased numberof meer-
chaums, and there is now in the
hands of the most prominent man.
ufactures in this city-the same
who took the bronze medal at
Paris-a magnificent meerschau m
pipe made to his order. The bowl
forms the bust Of a very beautiful
woman, and is correct likeness
of the Generals wife, taken from