The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-05
CONCERNING PIPES.
The Chinese Used Pipes Thousands of
Years Ago.

! ne custom or smoking in pipes Is
traceable to a date far in advance Of
any knowledge of tobacco. On the old.
est Chinese sculptures pipes are to bt
seen. An herb peculiar to China wa:
smoked in these pipes which has since
through the influence of Europeans
been supplanted by tobacco.
The pipe was also used in England
long before 1856, by Jean Nicot, from
whom tobacco received it's botanical
name of Nicotiana. At the same time
it was introduced into England by the
colonists from Virginia. Today, al
nations and tribes, whether civilized OF
savage, are smokers of tobacco. 1t is
estimated that about $500 100000 OF
| pounds are used annually.
| Undoubtedly the most ancient race OF
smokers of whom we have any knowl-
| edge is the aboriginal inhabitants of
North America At the time of their
first contact with white men they
smoked in pipes of the bark of a shrub
possessing narcotic qualities, called
Knick- Kneck. The Indians are invet-
crate smokers and regard their pipes
with feeling of love and reverence,
for in it, they believe, lies the mystery
of all things. For one ancient variety
of pipes the material used was called
the pipe-stone. 1t was dug from a
sacred quarry, supposed to have been
graciously given by the Great Spirit
for this purpose. The bowl was usually
carved, and sometimes most elaborate
ly. Heads of animals dear to their
tribes or the human face were repre-
scented.
The Calumet, or peace-pipe, was sa-
cred and never used except on the oc-
casion of peace-making. It's gorgeous
decoration was always a banner of
eagles feathers. Often the Va.u or al
Indian braves pipe exceeded that of
two fine horses. The theft of it was
punished by instant death. Neither was
it ever inherited by the Indians heirs.
1t was peculiarly his, and always
buried with him.
In England the pipe in common use
is modelled after that of the Dutchman,
who, in his turn, stole the pattern from
the Chinese. 1t is made of clay. In the
making of fancy pipes the English have
never excelled. but do some admirable
work in finishing, polishing and mount
ing thise that are imported in the
rough.
The French employ about 1000 hands
in the manufacture of common pipes.
1t is seldom one sees a Frenchman with
anything more costly in his mouth than
this simple nine-inch pipe of SOFT por-
Gus clay which, with it's neat fitting
case, can be bought for % sous. The
truly beautiful pipes that are displayed
in the shop windows are for the delec-
tation of foreigners and the maddest OF
all hobby riders, the pipe collectors.
They are made of agate. amber, crystal,
cornelian and ivory, the latter some
times being painted in a way that
would vie with the most exquisite min
iatures.
A favorite design in Paris is that of a
lady's hand holding an egg-shell. In the
top of the shell is the bowl of the pipe
At the Paris exposition in 1889 one
made in this design was displayed. The
wrist and hand were of gold, beautifully
modelled and carved, and the egg-shen
was of a hawless piece of amber. It
was recognized as a chef d'oeuVre and
sold for 1000 crowns.
The Germans have been the most
successful in pipe making. For a long
time they were renowned for their long
wooden pipes, which were made from
the close grained and gnarled root Of
the dwarf oak of the black forest. This
wood is hard enough TO resist the action
of fire.
But in these days the wooden pipe
has succumbed to the superiority of the
meerschaum.
This curious mineral is found in pits
in various parts of Asia Minor and the
Crimea. 1t is dug in the form of clay
and called by the Tartars. kiff -kill or
seafoam (meerschaum), owing to the
prevalent idea that when dug from the
pit it puffs up like foam. It's elements
are chiefly silica, magnesia, carbonic
acid and water. The difficulty in max
ing it into pipes is in getting rid of the
air it contains, which, when heated.
comes to the surface in bubbles and
causes it to split. A perfect specimen
is always valuable. 1t appears trans
parent and delicateiy mottled.
The great market for meerschaum is
&C nstantinople, but the trade of manu-
featuring it into pipes is mostly in the
hands OF the Germans and Poles, who
supply the world. A meerschaum pipe
can be purchased at almost any price
from 25-cent piece up to $500, and
even more. One famous meerschaum
that is owned by a prominent New
York man is made to represent a
lions head The bowl, which is two
inches in diameter, is in the top of the
head, but concealed by the deXterous
of the name, which, with
the face, is most eXquisitely carved.
The pipe has also taken the deep SAT-
fro ut tint of which meerschaum is cap
able, to perfection, and which is pecul-
iarly adapted to the subject of the de-
sign.
There is also in the same selection a
pipe representing Moor's head. The
turban wrapped about the head con
ceals the bowl. The face is strongly |
and a triumph in colori@s has
been achieved. Both of these pipes are |
lnrivalled in perfection, and in conse-
iuence almost without value.
1t is in the matter of coloring the |
that the charm of uncer-
ainty lies. AS the genuine meerschaum
5 smoked, the part that is exposed to
he heat gradually gives up its cool
:ream color. and changes to all the
ints between it and a deep brown. The
'alue Of a pipe well colored is greatly
multiplied. But the coloring cannot be
lone to perfection if one pipe once
lighted is allowed to cool and it is to
this obstacle that the pro-
ound have laid ipnumerable plans
few years ago an enthusiast in
ipes in London thought he had hit
pom a most delightful scheme. He had
n elaborate meerschaum swaddled in
oxen folds CT flannel. and then entered
nto treaty with a detachment of life
uardsmen at Whitehall to Keep it
mokins night and day. For this pur-