Question: "straws"

[Teamamerica1]

Hi. Brand new here. Reading a book (journal) starting at the tail end of the CW through Reconstruction. Does anyone know what "straws" were during that time period? Context: "farewell party of gentlemen... entertaining chiefly on tobacco and 'straws'.... Sorry to say that some...gave evidence of having indulged too freely in 'straws' with the usual seasonings." As written and as there was no explanation to it's meaning it seems usage may have been common practice. Any suggestions?

 

[Eleanor Rose]

Hi. Brand new here. Reading a book (journal) starting at the tail end of the CW through Reconstruction. Does anyone know what "straws" were during that time period? Context: "farewell party of gentlemen... entertaining chiefly on tobacco and 'straws'.... Sorry to say that some...gave evidence of having indulged too freely in 'straws' with the usual seasonings." As written and as there was no explanation to it's meaning it seems usage may have been common practice. Any suggestions?

Welcome aboard @Teamamerica1! I look forward to seeing the answer to this question. My guess would be "straws" were pieces of flavored tobacco that men chewed. I'm also guessing you're reading War-Time Journal of a Georgia Girl by Fanny Andrews. If so, it's a great choice. I think it's one of the most compelling first-person accounts of the Civil War from the homefront.

I hope you'll stop by the Mid-19th Century Life forum for a visit and join in the conversation! This forum covers everything Victorian, from how our 19th century friends celebrated holidays to how they lived their daily lives.

https://civilwartalk.com/forums/mid-19th-century-life.201/​

 

[donna]

Welcome to forum. I too am interested in what is meant by "straws".

Hope you visit the Food Forum. If you do please share some old recipes or modern ones in that section of the forum.

 

[Deleted User CS]

Welcome from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy. Just a guess,but possibly a placebo for smokers trying to quit

 

[Teamamerica1]

Welcome, enjoy. Just a guess,but possibly a placebo for smokers trying to quit

Thank you, John.

 

[Teamamerica1]

Welcome to forum. I too am interested in what is meant by "straws".

Hope you visit the Food Forum. If you do please share some old recipes or modern ones in that section of the forum.

They you for the kind welcome. Accidentally stumbled on this site while trying to Google an answer to my question. I see there's way more than anticipated in here.

 

[Teamamerica1]

They you for the kind welcome. Accidentally stumbled on this site while trying to Google an answer to my question. I see there's way more than anticipated in here.

They you for the kind welcome. Accidentally stumbled on this site while trying to Google an answer to my question. I see there's way more than anticipated in here.

Welcome, enjoy. Just a guess,but possibly a placebo for smokers trying to quit

Thank you, John.

 

[Teamamerica1]

Welcome aboard @Teamamerica1! I look forward to seeing the answer to this question. My guess would be "straws" were pieces of flavored tobacco that men chewed. I'm also guessing you're reading War-Time Journal of a Georgia Girl by Fanny Andrews. If so, it's a great choice. I think it's one of the most compelling first-person accounts of the Civil War from the homefront.

I hope you'll stop by the Mid-19th Century Life forum for a visit and join in the conversation! This forum covers everything Victorian, from how our 19th century friends celebrated holidays to how they lived their daily lives.

https://civilwartalk.com/forums/mid-19th-century-life.201/​

Yep. I am reading War-Time Journal of a Georgia Girl by Fanny Andrews. Recently had the good fortune to go on a genealogy trip to learn more about my dad's side of the family, one aspect was to visit St. Joseph's orphanage in Washington GA. What a fascinating history this little town has. Fanny Andrews was from there and, thus, how I came upon the book.

 

[Teamamerica1]

Welcome, enjoy. Just a guess,but possibly a placebo for smokers trying to quit

Thanks!

 

[Teamamerica1]

Welcome from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Thanks, CS!

 

[Teamamerica1]

Thanks to all who have written. I look forward to more responses. For convenience I use an Android phone but it doesn't seem compatible with this site. Next time I check back I'll use my laptop.

 

[captaindrew]

Welcome from South Florida and the Reenactors Forum

 

[Larryh86GT]

Welcome from WNY

 

[John Hartwell]

A few suggestions, probably equally unlikely:

1. "Tossing a straw shows which way the wind blows." Were they motivated less by conviction than by fashion?

2.

Were they simply addicted to an unseemly habit?

3.

Did they "indulge too freely in 'straws' with the usual seasonings (julips)?"

If any of the above, I'd suspect the last as most likely. But, it's probably something else altogether.
Both clippings, btw, are from late 1850s newspapers.

 

[Eleanor Rose]

Did they "indulge too freely in 'straws' with the usual seasonings (julips)?"

I like this theory John! And it might be on track. It would make sense for the line from the book to be a reference to men smoking and imbibing. I know they used to twist tobacco into strings and then bite it off for a "chew," but I think Fanny would have referenced it as a twist and not a straw. I'm also not sure they seasoned their tobacco in anyway during the mid-1800s. Yep. I'm putting my money on alcohol.

 

[Teamamerica1]

Welcome from South Florida and the Reenactors Forum

Thank you!

 

[ErnieMac]

Welcome from Pittsburgh PA and the Antietam / Sharpsburg Forum.

 

[Seduzal]

Welcome to CWT from the Smoky Mountain side of North Carolina. Just jump right in and enjoy.

 

[Teamamerica1]

View attachment 309510​

A few suggestions, probably equally unlikely:

1. "Tossing a straw shows which way the wind blows." Were they motivated less by conviction than by fashion?

2.View attachment 309507 Were they simply addicted to an unseemly habit?

3.View attachment 309509 Did they "indulge too freely in 'straws' with the usual seasonings (julips)?"

If any of the above, I'd suspect the last as most likely. But, it's probably something else altogether.
Both clippings, btw, are from late 1850s newspapers.

Hi. So far your #3 theory makes the most sense. Thanks for taking the time to help me out.