The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-02-24

Ofall the varieties Of pipes the most
esteemed is the meerschaum, comprising |
every style and pattern, and ranging in |
up to two hundred dollars. The poetical |
idea that the true meerschaum is the |
foam of the sea of Azof is one of those
illusions that are created to be destroyed, |
the fact being that meerschaum is kind |
of clay found in beds in various parts of |
Europe. 1t varies. in quality, the best
being of a blush tinge and seldom seen |
in this country; from. its mirror
like polish it bears the name of
Spiegel or looking-glass meerschaum.
The blocks of meerschaum, in their ma
tive state, are peculiar looking clusters of
round or partly egg-shaped masses from
each of which the workman cuts the
particular kind of bowl for which the
piece can be used to the best advantage.
The rough shape of the pipe is first cut
out on lathe, after which a workman
with sharp knife carefully pares the
soft clay, reducing the pipe by successive
stages more and more to the intended
form. When a particularly fanciful de-
vice is required, rough hewn space is
left around the pipe which, in succeed
ing stage, blossoms out with delicate
flower, or becomes a lady's hand, skull,
an eagles claw, or any possible or i'm
possible object that the pipe artist desires
to create. The more artistic pipes, re-
quiring special designs, are finished by
the most skilled workmen at their own
homes. The meerschaum having been
reduced to the requisite shape, is
further smoothed with sandpaper and
polished. The making of an amber
mouth-piece an important part of the
pipe-maker's business.
A curious circumstance in connection
with amber is the finding of flies inn
bedded in the substance cut through by
the workmen in shaping the mouth
pieces. These ancient insects undoubt-
edly enjoyed the sunshine of the geologic
ages, and being lured by the sweet
scented gum, dropped into it and. were
sealed up forever; to-day their form is
as perfect as that of any living decend-
ants.
The brierwood pipe came into general
use during the war. Itpossessed the rec
ommendation of strength, could stand
much knocking about, and from being
adopted in the army came into use all
over the country, and has retained its
hold on the affections of the people ever
since. Its form is legion, from the
severely simple bowl and straight stem,
to the grotesquely carved heads and
faces that blink and leef like imps in a
cloud of blue curling smoke. They are
made in immense quantities, principally
by machinery, consisting of turning
lathes, which by different stages give to
the pipe the intended form. The brier-
wood is a white wood, covered with a
red or mahogany colored bark. The
wood is placed in a steam box, where it
is kept for four or five days, during
which time the rich dye of the bark PEN
etrates and gives it the deep color which
adds so much to its beauty. Besides
brierwood, mahogany, rose and apple
wood are used in making pipes. Wooden
pipes are largely manufactured in this
country, but the finer varieties are i'm
ported from England.
We next come to the humble clay pipe
which some smokers prefer to all Others.
The clay pipe undoubtedly represents
the impliment in its most primitive
form, and with its long, slender, slightly
curved stem it was the cherished COM
panion of our meditative ancestors. In
England these long pipes are known as
"church wardens," and their majestic
length imparts to the smoker peculiar
look of gravity and solemnity. The short
pipe, unsayory, but Otter highly cher
ished, is of the same material.
The best clay pipes in use in this coun-
try are imported from Germany, Scot
land, France and Holland. The town
of Grossalmerode in Germany furnishes
large quantity; Glasgow contributes a
considerable share; the French clays
come from st. Omer, and the real Dutch,
including the long pipes spoken Of, from
Gouta in Holland. The yearly Imports
tion ofclay pipes to this country amounts
to about sixty thousand boxes ayerag-
ing three gross to the box. Be-
sides this there is a considerable manu-
facture in this country. The red clay
pipes made. for the insertion of reed
come from Virginia.