COLOURING PIPES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 188, 10 August 1871, Page 4

COLOURING PIPES

(From ihe Saturday Review.") We have received a treatise, to which the author has evidently devoted his best talents, and which, so far as we can speak from somewhat imperfect knowledge, appears to be admirable alike in tone and substance. Modern literature suffers greatly from the prevailing theory that nothing more is necessary, in order to write successfully upon any subject, than ink and paper and a few books of reference. The advantages of systematic study conscientiously devoted to a single end is, however, beginning to be more generally appreciated. We are glad to see that this truth is penetrating into quarters where it might have been anticipated that a recognition of its value would be somewhat slow. But in the hands of a master almost any vein of inquiry may reveal capacities hitherto unimagined. From any one truth, it is sometimes said, any other truth may be inferred. It may at least be agreed that the furthest ramification of the smallest byway of inquiry is connected by a more or less remote passage with the central topics of human thought. Berkeley's proverbial transition from tarwater to the doctrine of the Trinity, is merely an example of what may be done by any one who systematically ascends from any particular proposition to the geoeral law which it exemplifies. Starting from the little treatise just noticed, which appears to treat of a most insignificant matter, we found ourselves drifting into a speculation on human nature in general. We are half inclined to fancy that its author, who modestly remains anonymous, is a great philosopher in disguise ; and that his book should be put by the side of those apparently trifling fables in which some of the deepest thinkers of our race have chosen to couch the results of their observations. His avowed ob}ect, indeed, is nothing more serious than the proper mode of coloring meerschaum pipes. Let not the hasty reader turn aside in contempt from these humble toils, or decide that the mode of coloring a meerschaum is necessarily unworthy of philosophical inquiry. When Mr. Darwin was pursuing his inquiries into the origin of species, he was known to one class of mankind simply as a pigeon-fancier. They supposed, as it may be, that his ambitiou was limited by that whicli formed its immediate gaol — the production of a pigeonwith a beak a tenth of an inch longer than its ancestors, or with a rather more brilliant iris on its neck. Yet from such trifling investigations sprang results which have gone far to modify the whole current of scientific thought iv Europe. Bearing this in] structive example in mind, let us for a moment condescend to the examination of meerschaum pipes ; and, that we may not claim a merit which is not our due, let us begin by admitting frankly that we are afc most building on the foundation laid by our unknown author. Consider, in the first place, a meers*chaum pipe in its native purity of hue. It is a symbol of one of the most universal, and, we might almost add, one of the most intellectual pleasures known to humanity. From a moral point of view it is suggestive of peace, of the calming of over-irritated nerves, and of general goodwill towards mankind. Tobacco supplies one of tbe few comforts by which men who live by their hands solace themselves under incessant hardships, whilst it equally gives relief to the excited brain of those who, depend upon intellectual labor. In all the wide scale of human beings which intervenes between the Red Indian and German philosopher there is no rank for which tobacco does not soften the harsh edges of daily life. Next to the man who invented sleep, we should pay gratitude to the benefactor who discovered this method of entering the confines of sleep during our waking hours. So great and universal a pleasure should surely have its outward signs to recall the memory of past happiness. *Some of the highest artistic faculties have been called out in the e'ffofito render more attractive tbe instruments which minister to the more iemual aud dangerous paition for

intoxicating drinks. If it is worth a man's while to ornament a drinking-cup with the labor of months or years, why should not an equal attention be bestowed upon pipes ? The meerschaum is to the. ordinary clay what the diamoud is to agate, or gold to copper; but it must be admitted, if we may judge from the specimens exhibited iv tobacconists' shops, that it has hitherto employed only a very inferior order of talent. Yet the meerschaum has the special glory that, if skilfully handled, it is ornamented in the very process of enjoyment. It would require no ordinary power of language to point out the lovely gradation of colors through which the virgin white of the primitive material gradually deepens through a delicate amber down to the richest cbeshout, and finally to the blackness of midnight. Should so beautiful a metamorphosis be carlessly left to chance ? Our anonymous philosopher has observed withphi'authroph c regret that smokers i?o not give that emphatic answer in the negative which might be expected. He has seen, with melancholy eyes, pipes that might under happier auspices have rivalled the most cherished trophies of the art, doomed by cruel neglect to premature and hopeless ruin. As great poetical imaginations have been ruined by the intemperance of their owners, as geniuses who might have delighted the world have been content with the applause of a village pothouse, so many pipes of great but unrevealed capacities have become mere blurred and burnt relics of their former selves. The greediness of tradesmen, and ihe carelessness and ignorance of proprietors, have contributed to this lamentable result. Our reformer does what he can to obviate tbe last of these causes of waste. He points out with admirable precision the true course to be pursued by a man resolved to make the best use of the materials which he possesses. We shall not quote his advice in detail, further than to say that the great qualifications for success, in this as in every other art, are thoughtful ness, attention, and a deep sense of responsibility. No man should choose a pipe recklessly, or smoke it with a regard only to the immediate pleasure ; his great end should be always more or less distinctly, hefore him ; ODCe fairly launched on the path of success, he should not allow himself to be hurried or deviated from his aim ; and when at length his labors have produced the desired result, when the pipe is arrayed in all its glories of color, and every danger has been evaded by unremitting care, he should place it before him on some safe pedestal as a record of former successes and a stimulus to new efforts. In the course of a long and virtuous life thus employed, it is a moderate estimate to say that a man might be surrounded with as many triumphs of skill as a great painter or sculptor. The unknown author contents himself with laying down his leading principles, and does not seek to connect them explicitly with the labors of other eminent thinkers. We must venture, however un-* equal to the task, to point out some of the most obvious corollaries from his doctrine. Let us admit that a meerschaum, however wellcolored, does not deserve to be put beside a first-rate picture; aad, indeed, that its last stage is worse than its first; and what follows ? Simply that we have another illustration of the extreme facility with which men can contrive hobbies which will occupy their spare moments harmlessly and do mischief to nobody. If a man becomes a fautical colorer of meerschaums, the worst result will be that he will perhaps smoke rather more than is good for him. His fate might have been incomparably worse; he might have taken to politics or philanthropy, and tried to do good. He might, that is, have spent his spare moments, in, talking nonsense or in demoralising the poor. Nay, he might have descended to be a member of Parliament, and have added to the torrent of talk which threatens to overwhelm us entirely. In short, he might have taken up with any of the innumerable hobbies of the offensive variety which stalk rampant about the country to the annoyance of quiet people. . . How much better the quiet pui suit we have indicated ! With far less thought than we now perceive to go to the coloring of a meerschaum, a man may make a noise as a .reformer, and add one more to the countless schemes for turning things upside down which now darken the air. Indeed, we almost believe that a spread of the habit might effect a great moral change throughout the country. If the ladies who .clamor for woman's fights, would only begin by invading this part of man's privileges, we should see a material change in their character and conduct. Instead of screaOaing, ; they would soon learn to take things quietly ;. ttiey ., would remember that all human life need not be at high pressure. . c Th^e, fu_?_, times for.; coloring meerschaums, as! there are , times for thundering in senates ; add without a due mixture of purely harmless hobby-

hunting the world would be intolerable. Whether the pipe-coloring should be. the. special pursuit selected must depend. upon the iJiosjncracies of the particular subject; but the choice of some such amusement may be strongly recommended to the atteution of all those restless uncomfortable people who do not understand the supreme importance of doing nothing.