The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-02-17

heres to il, and smoothed with certain
unctuous leaves which grow in the neigh
borhood.
The meerschaum is sold by quality and
measure, and is always packed with great
eloseness and nicely in cases which are
three feet long, one foot deep and twenty
inches broad. There are ten distinct quail
tiles of the clay, aud the price Of case
varies from s75 to $780,
In order TO examine the process Of work
ing the meerschaum, visit was made to
the establishment Of +. j. Kaldenberg,
No III Fulton street, New York, which
is the most extensive factory of the kind
in this country. About seventy five per-
sons are employed here, but part are en-
gagged in ivory-turning and the manufac-
ture Of amber jewelry, At least forty
persons are employed, however, solely in
connection with the manufacture and sale
of meerschaum goods. The workmen are
chiefly Germans, but such as have learned
their trade in Europe, it is said have to
undergo long training here before they
can be trusted with the finest work.
Alter the irregular blocks Of mcerschaum
have been taken from the packing cases,
they are first cut by band-saws into pieces
OF the size required. The piece is then
dampened with water to render il soft,
aud fashioned by hand labor into the form
OF pipe or cigar-holder. 1t is next baked
in an oven until dry, after which it is
carefully smoothed with sandpaper and
shave grass. This shave grass species
of rush, with a fle-like suriace-is used
in large quantities, and was formerly i'm
ported from Germany at cost Of dollar
a pound, 1t is now obtained from Con-
neetieut.
The whole process OF cutting and shap-
ing meerschaum is similar to turning and
carving in wood or ivory. All the ma
chlnery and most of the tools used are
common to the different trades, and for
this reason work in ivory is often united
with the manufacture OF pipes.
After meerschaum article has reached
the stage last mentioned, 1t is ready for
the important process Of boiling in pre-
paration OF wax. But for this part of its
manufacture 1t could not be colored by
the smoker. Being the most porous Of all
kinds OF clay, meerschaum readily absorbs
the oil OF tobacco, which would pass through
and evaporate If the pipe were left in It's
raw condition. When boiled in wax the
meerschaum partly absords this, also, and
thin coating Of wax, susceptible Of high
polish, is left on its surface. AS the pipe
is smoked, the oil Of tobacco absorbed in
the clay is retained under the wax, and
the meerschaum grows darker IN proper
tion to the amount Of tobacco consumed.
Old pipes are boiled to restore their alb
sorbing qualities after the clay has been
burned by overheating.
The pipe bowl or cigar-holder having
been boiled, 1t receives the finishing touches
from the workman. When much carving
Is done, this finishing process Is very elab-
crate, including much of the most delicate
work. The fine cutting tools used are va
rious in design, according to the prefer
ence Of the workman, or, rather, artist,
who performs this part Of the task. The
stem or mouthpiece is next fitted, and the
case for the article is made OF wood, COW
cred with leather, and lined with silk or
velvet, A case has to be made expressly
for each pipe or holder, as, out OF a great
number OF articles, designed to be oil the
seme size and pattern, no two are ever
found precisely alike. The meerschaum
being liable to be soiled IN some degree BY
the workman who makes the case, the
operation OF polishing 1t is deferred to the
last. This Is done with soft cloth and
silleate OF lime
The plpe-stems used are OF amber, join
ing the meerschaum, and OF cherry or
other material, attachable to the bowl at
will. Amber is used for the mouthpieces
OF all stems and OF cigar holders. 1t can
be readily cut or fled by an experienced
workman into any form desired, although
it chips and cracks under tools in an un-
practlsed hand. Mr.. haidenberg has ac-
quired, in the course Of his business, a
very large and valuable collection of am
Der curiosities, including many specimens
with insects embedded in the gum. The
most remarkable OF these curiosities is a
small piece Of clear amber enclosing in its
centre large drop Of water, which rolls
from side to side of its tiny prison as the
piece is raised or inclined. The value OF
this specimen is estimated at 5000.
The best meerschaum is neither the
heaviest nor the very lightest obtained,
and is DISTINGUISHED chiefly by the fineness