Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-31
CORNCOBS
A Message for Boonyille

but one can still recall the indignation
written on the faces of nicotine soaked
gaffers who had been buying cobs at
jitney ever since Washington used one to
keep warm at Valley Forge. II the Kaiser
wants a proof of our determination to
win the war, let him ponder that the price
of Missouri meerschaums went up 20 per
cent and there was no insurrection.
Yesterday we went out to buy our an.
nual corncob, and were agreeably sur.
prsed to learn that the price is still six
cents; but our friend the tobacconist said
that It may so up again soon. We took
the treasure. cleaning yellow with fresh
varnish, back to our kennel, and we are
smoking it as we set down these words.
A corncob is sadly hot and raw until 1t
is we'll sooted, but the ultimate flavor is
worth the persecution.
The corncob pipes we always buy come
from Boonville, Mo-, and we don't see why
we shouldn't blow little Whit Of affec-
ton and gratitude toward that excellent
town. Moreover, Boonville celebrates its
centennial this year: it was founded in
1918, If the map is to be believed, it is
on the southern bank of the Missouri
River, which is there spanned by very
fine bridge; 1t is reached by two railroads
Missouri Pacific and NJ, X. and TJ and
stands on a bluff 100 feet above the water.
According to the two works of reference
nearest to our desk its population is
either 4252 or 4S77. Perhaps the former
census omits the 1875 men Of the town who
are so benighted as to smoke briars or
clays.
Delightful town of Boonvile seat of
Cooper County. you are we'll named. How
great a boon you have conferred upon a
troubled world Long after more ambl.
tious towns have faded in the memory Of
man your quiet and soothing gift to hui
manity will make your name blessed.
like to imagine your shady streets, drows-
ing in the summer sun, and the rural
philosophers sitting on the verandas of
your hotels or on the benches of Harley
Park ccomprising fifteen acres"-New In
ternational Encyclopedia. looking out
across the brown river and putting clouds
of sweet gray reek. Down by the livery
stable on Main street there must be a
livery stable on Main street, can see the
old creaky, cane-bottomed chairs with
seats punctured by too much philosophy
tilted against the sycamore trees ready
for the afternoon gossip and shag tobacco
| can imagine the small boys of Boonville
fishing for catfish from the piers of the
bridge or bathing down by the steamboat
dock df there is one) and yearning for
the day when they. too, will be grown up
and old enough to smoke corncobs.
What is the subtle magic of a corncob
pipe? 1t is never as sweet or as mellow
as well-seasoned briar, and yet II has a
fascination all its own. 1t is equally dear
to those who work hard and those who
loaf with intensity. When you put your
nose to the blackened mouth of the hot
cob it's odor is quite different from that
fragrance of the crusted wooden bowl
There is a faint bitterness in it, n sour
plaintive aroma. 1t is a pipe that seems
to call aloud for the accompanimert Of
beer and earnest argument on factional
political matters. 1t is also the pipe for
solitary vigils of hard and concentrated
work 1t is the pipe that a man keeps
in the drawer of his desk for savage hours
Of extra toll after the stenographer has
A corrcob pipe is a humble badge of
| philosophy an evidence of tolerance and
even humor 1t requires patience and
| good cheer. for it is slow to break in"
Those who mediate bestial and brutal de.
| signs against the weak and innocent do
not smoke it. Probably Hindenburg never
saw one. Missouris reputation for in
| credulity may be due to the corncob habit.
| One who is accustomed to consider an
| argument over burning nest of tobacco.
with the smoke fuming upward in a
placid haze, will not accept any dogma
too Immediately.
There is singular affinity among those
| who smoke corncobs. A Missouri meer
| sChaum whose bowl is Drowned and whose
| fiber stem is frayed and stringy with
biting betrays a meditative and reason
able owner. He will have pondered all
aspects of life and be equally ready to
denounce any of them. but without bitter
! ness. II you see a man on a street cor.
ner smoking a cob it will be safe to ask
him to watch the baby a minute while YOU
slip around the corner. You would even
be safe in asking him to lend you a five
lie Will be safe. too because he won't
| have it. -
Think, therefore, of the charm of town
where corncob pipes are the chief indus
try. Think of them stacked up in bright
yellow piles in the warehouse. Think of
the warm sun and the wholesome sweet
ness of broad acres that have grown into
the pith of the cob. Think of the bright
eyed Missouri maidens who have turned
and scooped and vanished and packed
them. Think Of the airy streets and wide
pavements Of Boonville, and the corner
drug stores with their shining soda foun.
tains and grape-juice bottles Think OF
sitting out on that bluff on a warm eve
ming, watching the broad simmer of the
river slipping down from the sunset ant