The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-24
THE USEFUL oLD-TIME GOURDS.
Served as Dippers, Dinner Baskets
and Basins and Many Other Uten-


sils.
Emma Carleton in Indianapolis News.
Among the indispensable articles of
an American pioneer householder the
farmers home only 20 years ago-was
the gourd, which is now seldom seen,
even in old-fashioned rustic dwellings.
In more artistic Mexico, however, the
gourd is still grown; as is shown by
the gay red and yellow, silvered and
gilded gourds which are found on our
baaZr counters where Indian curios
are sold. Mexican Indians also cut,
stain and carve the round end of the
ordinary gourd- -calabash into decora-
tive little bowls, saucers and dishes;
women make quaint work. boxes, cut
ting the upper part into star shaped
lids.
OF the old-time gourd-botanical
cousin to the summer squash, whose
exquisite grace Hawthorn wished to
perpetuate in marble-and to the tooth
some -cucpaaber- aEd-the- goldeA- pump
KNIT is now interesting to recall in
how many various capacities it form
erly served the sturdy pioneer. In
Revolutionary times the gourd was
used as powder horn; a few curious
- Nc@a FC0S ti4lAC-SldlIiCQ SPCClHlCHS VI
these ancient ammunition TASKS are
still in existence. In and around the
log cabin of early days the gourd was
everywhere, and as a domestic utensil
1t had no rival. 1t grew in many sizes
and shapes, each adapted to it's special
service. The largest gourds, holding
often a full bushel, were used as bee
hives or bee stands, the top being saw
ed off and attached again by leather
hinges, and an opening for the bees
cut in the gourd's lower edge. Martin
boxes were also made of these big
gourds, and were mounted on poles
near the cabins.
Tin, in those days, was scarce and
costly. The omnipresent gourd filled
many of its offices satisfactorily. The
lower half of the larger gourds was
utilized as wash basins and as fruit
boxes in which to store dried apples
and peaches. Gourds next in size,
holding from one or two quarts to a
full peck, were cut into many kitchen
vessels, and served to hold salt. lard
sugar, seeds and soft soap" the soap
gourd" and the salt gourd" were
household words in the early days.
What was called the jug gourd"
was another large variety. Having a
cork for its mouth and a leather strap
49, 80 AASNhs ~ was nllGQ WIN COlQ
spring water and daily carried to the
field by the farmer. This gourd is well
remembered by many now elderly BOYS
whose duty it once was to keep it
replenished from the spring, perhaps
half mile away. At every well or
spring at that time was a long handled
gourd, fashioned into a dipper; these
dippers were also seen, numerous and
OF all sizes, in the houses; the people
would not drink out of anything else
water was believed to taste sweeter"
out of a nice clean gourd. The long
necked gourd, too, with a hole cut in
It's side and another hole in it's neck,
was hung on a peg driven in the cabin
wall to contain precious articles which
must be out of reach from the chill
dren-knives, forks and spoons, also
nails, were kept in these gourds on
the wall. Gourds which held sugar.
salt, etc., were ranged in a row be-
hind the few dishes in the corner cup
board.
At the country schools children
brought their dinners in little gourd
dinner baskets; primitive mouse-traps
were devised of gourds, and the gourd
fiddle-an adaptation of the West In
dian calabash-musical instrument
was familiar object Small gourds
women; a New Orleans lady still
cherishes a gourd darning ball which
has thus served three generations of
needle-women. On two large gourds
tied together the pioneer boy foated
While he learned to swim; a small
gourd filled with gravel he often at
tached for amusement to any stray
dogs tail. Rattles for the babies were
also constructed of the little gourds.
The process of saving gourds pro-
duced a peculiar noise which much
resembled snoring; hence, in the rural,
Jocular vernacular, the phrase for
sleeping was Saving gourds." Jake,
you'd better go to bed; you've been
saving gourds this long time" To the
useful gourd attaches the story of two
lrishmen, just arrived in America, and
experiencing their first sight of a
terrapin. What is that, Pat?" Mike
asked, Faith, Mike" Pat answered
promptly, "sure an it's nothin' but a
toad sewed up in a gourd."