Meerschaum imagination annotation ?

     I would like to tackle the word "meerschaum" from Peace Like a River. This word comes up during the time of court dealings, right before Mr. DeCuellar enlightens Swede with a new game ... War at Sea. This is the exact passage it is found in, "He looked at her, brought out his meerschaum, and squatted comfortably."(82)    
    The reasons why this stuck out to me, was that it was a German word, and it's literal meaning would seem awkward and unfitting. I am German, and therefore reading this passage the first time automatically read it as it's original German meaning. Meerschaum translates into Sea foam. He brought out his sea foam? This imagery of waves crashing and as a result creating calm foam drawing towards the beach, made me view Mr.DeCuellar as described nice. First, he is like waves crashing (maybe symbolizing his job in protecting and turning people over) then later, he is the calm sea foam (talking and playing with Swede, comforting). My mind just accepted it as a great imagery device to use meerschaum as Dr. DeCuellars choice of speech. It just fit so well, with the War at Sea game reference, just a sentence later.(82)
    Once I researched the word in the dictionary, the revelation of a completely different meaning splashed me in the face.

[meer-shuhm, -shawm] –noun
1. a mineral, hydrous magnesium silicate, H 4 Mg 2 Si 3 O 1 0 , occurring in white, clay like masses, used for ornamental carvings, for pipe bowls, etc.; sepiolite.
2. a tobacco pipe with a bowl made of this substance.

    Realizing now, that meerschaum did not represent DeCuellars way of speaking, but his tobacco pipe, I felt a mix between "duh, that makes sense" and disappointment. I liked my initial way of thinking far better. Meerschaum symbolism seemed to be a secret, since I could not find any results...I must have been the first one to think deeply into meerschaum. Smoking Pipes, in general were compared to a man's hat, or clothing. They both reflect the style, personality, and taste of a person. Meerschaum pipes were white, hard (yet soft enough to be able to be scratch-carved into designs), quality, and artworks. Could this describe Mr. DeCuellar? ... white for pureness, righteousness? ... hard, yet has a soft side? ...quality?...artist? I think the symbolism could relate very well here. In order to do his job right, he must be righteous and hard, with slight softness. He must manipulate the word choice and tone he uses, as an art form to succeed at his lawyer profession with quality.
    As a summery, my own interpretation of meerschaum was great to be engaged in. The true meaning used in the story might have not been as greatly effective as mine, but it's what the author meant. Considering I am reading his work, I want to keep it to his meanings. The lawyer in the end is portrayed as a professional mannered man, by simple adding an artistic pipe to the story line.

Citations

Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (Eleventh ed.). Cambridge University Press.

"Meerschaum." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 31 Mar. 2011.
    <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Meerschaum>.

 

Enger, Lief. Peace Like a River. New York : Grove Press, 2001.