The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-12
A PIPE COLLECTION.
Miss Julia Parsons, of Wamego, Has
Some Rare Old 1Eeerschaums-

Florence Johnston in Wamego Times
1t was a man who loved his pipe with
the smokers love, for the soothing and
solacing influence Of its compan1onsnlp
who wrote that clever dedication or his
first successful book: ITO the very
dear and wel1-beloved friend Of my
prosperous and evil days-to the friend,
who. though in the early stages of our
acquaintanceship did oftimes disagree
with me, has since become to be my
very warmest comrade-to the friend,
who, however often I put him out,
never now upsets me in revenge-to the
friend, who, treated with marked COOL
ness by all the female members OF my
household ana regarded with Suspicion
by my very dog, nevertheless seems Gay
by day to be more drawn by me, ana 10
more impregnate me with the DOOR OF
his friendship-to the friend who never
tells me OF my faults, never wants 70
borrow money and never talks about
himself-to the companion Of my idle
hours, the Soother Of my sorrows the
confdant of my lows and hopes, my
oldest and strongest pipe, this little vol
ume is gratefully and affectionately
dedicated"
There is a Young woman in Wamego
who is deeply interested in pipes our
she does not own to a degree OF deyo-
ton to them equal to that OF MI Je-
purely that of the collector. For ABOUT
two years Miss Julia Parsons has been
making a collection of these articles,
popularity supposed, in this locality, to
Appeal only to the masculine taste.
Miss Parsons has not devoted any great
amount Of time or money to her RAD. II
has been 8. side issue with her, and she
has never gone out Of her way TO aod
to her collection. Nevertheless. through
the kindness of her friends and by
means more or less accidental, she has
gathered together a number of pipes,
some of which are rare and valuable
Not all the pipes in Miss Parsons
collection are of historical interest or
of particular value, yet each has It's
worth in the eyes Of its owner. For in
stance, she has tin SOapbubble pipe
which is a souvenir of soap-bubble
party which she attended as cnlld,
and there is an ordinary looking little
fellow to which she points with pride
because it was the beginning Of her col
lection. And although Missouri Meer-
schaums" may be secured by anyone
without much trouble or expense, who
will say that a collection would be COM
pletei without it, Neither does she
scorn the common clay pipes or those
made in Wamego, u. S. A. She has
one Of each. Some are souvenirs or
towns she has visited, and some are
evidences that her out-of-Kansas friends
recognize the honor of having their
states represented among her posses
sions-
Some of these pipes are very hand
some. There is one of rosewood WITH
silver mountings; one of carved sandal
wood: one OF rosewood with amin
noulhpiece: one, unusually small, of nat
ural wood ingeniOusly carved Various
styles, shapes and sizes are represented
In fact no two are alike. There is an ola
Indian pipe dug from the grave Of n
Indian chief There are several German
pipes. There is what is called anti
nicotine pipe. There are some of the bull
dog and some of the block shapes. A
funny little one with a fat bowl is sup
ported by squat legs A long-handled
''burgher'' has it's bowl decorated with
the head of Peter Van Tromp. Another
bowl is carved in the guise OF an Indian
braves head. An "Oom Paul. has its
long curved handle adorned with the col
ors Of the New York smoking club. One
is a souvenir Of the Wichita dremen s
tournament, the bowl showing a fire
mans head, his shining helmet forming
the lid Of the bowl. One makes claim to
fame because 1t was purchased of Jesse
James, Jr., of Kansas City, Mo, u. S.
A A Chinese opium pipe, one of the
unique features of the collection came
from Manila Harvey Chandler, late OF
the Twentieth Kansas, was the donor.
The longest is about two feet long, the
shortest less than two inches There is
one which looks as though it might have
an interesting history, although its ca
reer, up to the time it fell into Miss Par
sons hands, is yelled in mystery. Miss
Parsons brother. Fleet Parsons, a stud
ent at the Colorado state school of mines
found it while walking along a canon
near Golden. Tt is old and worn with
tOOth-marks on the mOuth-pieces but
Il
for there is a tiny band Of metal, beau
tifully engraved. around the stem. Mr..
Parsons sent this, tied with his college
colOrs to a. kodak picture, Of the pic
tureSQue spot where it was found. to his
sister. for a valentine, last year.
Andy Turner, the Wamego negro. now
serving a term in the state penitentiary
for murder, formerly worked for tire
imprisonment Miss Parsons younger
brother, found the old clay pipe which
he mad smoked in the basement, and in
sisted that his sister add it to her collec-
ton, and accordingly 'Hinch's'' pipe is
honOred with preservation among others
of long and noble lineage.
Richard Hargraves. formerly of Wa
mego, now in Cuba, contributed an anl-
Der cigar holder which has a history 1t
is souvenir Of the Cuban fnsurrection
and belonged to Lieut. Col Juan Or
donez, judge instructor of the captaii
general during Weyler's administration,
and military governor of GuanabaooE
during Blanco's administration. When
Gen. Ruis Rivara, present civil governor
OF Havana, Was captured by the Spanish
and tried at PiBar del Rio, Ordonez
pleaded his case. The pipe was therefore
Intimately associated with some Of the
stirring events in Cuba, which preceded
and brought about our war with Spair.
The most valuable pipe which Miss
PARSONS possesses is 153 years old and
has had a varied and interesting his
tory. The date, 1913 Is plainly carved
upon the bowl It is a. Hungarian CLAW
pipe. It's first owner was one Pf1anz.
who purchased tt at Debreczfn, Hun
gary The pipe has gone through four
wars Its original owner served in the
Austrian army against France in 1892.
Later he settled in Saxony and smoked
the pipe of peace until the Napoleonic
wars. in which re served, and during
which he was K Tiled in battle The pipe
passed into his sons hands, and finally
into his gram sons. This third Phanz
was born in Saxony and lived there until
he was TO- when he fought with Prussia
against Austria Later he took up arms
with Germany against France. in 1870,
and the pipe shared his military expe-
riences.
The story of how the pipe got into