Last week’s Mystery Question had to do with this mirror, and everyone had great answers. Here’s the story behind the mirror:
The City of Natchez owns the Auburn Mansion, and one day the mayor of Natchez was in Vicksburg where he saw this mirror. Immediately, he said, “I have to have that for Auburn Mansion.” So he bought it. There was only one problem. It is a huge mirror, and he had to get it to Natchez without breaking it.
He got together a crew of men and a truck. The men carefully took the mirror out of the house where it was.
They didn’t break it.
They got it loaded on the truck.
They didn’t break it.
They drove it to Natchez and pulled in front of the circle drive at Auburn. They didn’t break it. Very carefully they unloaded it and got it up the steps and into the house.
They didn’t break it.
The men very carefully hung the mirrorl
…and they didn’t break it.
Then they proudly called in the volunteer members of the Auburn Antebellum Home for the City. The head of the group took one look at the mirror and said, “It’s beautiful. But you’ve hung it upside down.”
Needless to say, they left it that way. Congrats to Carole for getting it right!
Now onto this week’s mystery question that involves something else at Auburn Mansion. What was the clear jar in the photo below used for?
The first one to answer correctly wins a book from my library.
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The winner of Jesus Calling is Michelle Weidenbenner!
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Comments 37
I’ll guess potpourri.
Author
We’ll see Christine…thanks for stopping by.
A leech jar?
Author
We’ll see, Paula…thanks for dropping by and commenting.
How could that mirror possibly be upside down? Everything reflected in it is right-side up. Obviously mirrors work differently in Mississippi than in Virginia. LOL! Regarding the jar, the first thing that pops into my mind is to display cut flowers. If I spent several more hours thinking about it, that would probably still be my answer, so I’m going with it.
Author
Aww, Edward, you mean you’re not going to puzzle it out? lol. We’ll see if your flower guess is correct next Tuesday. Thanks for stopping by.
To hold some caustic liquid that acts as a smelling salts?
Author
Hmmm, two guesses, Paula…we’ll see next week! Thanks for stopping by.
I think it’s a spittoon.
Author
Could be, Perrianne…we’ll see next Tuesday. Thanks for stopping by.
hmm….this feels like a trick question. 🙂 I’m going to guess that it was used to hold a candle, or something to do with lights or lanterns.
Author
Rosalyn, you don’t think I would trick you…do you?? 😉 Thanks for dropping by.
That’s crazy about the mirror. I may be wrong here, too, but on the clear glass item I’m going w/ it’s a “snuffer” to lower over a candle or kerosene lamp to put it out.
Author
That sounds like a good answer, Delores. We’ll see next week. Thanks for stopping by.
If all the items are related, I would think that it has something to do with medicine or such….what I am not sure.
Author
True, Gloria. I never would have guessed what it was used for…thanks for stopping by.
I’m thinking it’s a fly-catcher, but I could be wrong – Honestly, I’ve never seen an antebellum mansion that I didn’t want to tour! I’m so glad you got to do this – and can’t wait to see how they show up in your series!
Author
Regina, I am so enjoying my visits to Natchez. The first book doesn’t have an antebellum house in it, but it does have a ’30s style Craftsman house.
I think it is a vase for pretty flower arrangements.
Author
It would make a pretty vase, wouldn’t it, Alicia! Thanks for stopping by.
I’m going to say candle jar. proably wrong.
Author
It would make a good candle jar…just not sure that’s what it was used for, Shelia. 😉
I’m guessing a cupping jar, it has to do with the medical procedure to increase blood flow. Probably way out there with my answer, lol!
I knew Carole was into something with the upside down mirror! It did kind of look funny the way it was I am surprised it was broken when they carried it into the house!
Thanks Patricia, these have been fun guessing games!
Author
Hi Trixi. I’m assuming you meant it wasn’t broken when they carried it inside the house. And you may be onto something about blood flow. Thanks for stopping by.
Yes, of course that’s what I meant! I just love that autocorrect thinks it knows what I want to type, lol!
I’ve read about cupping jars and how they used to use them way back when in history. I just couldn’t remember the reason, so I looked it up. They also used to use leeches to draw blood or help with bleeding…or something like that. Yuck, is what I say! Historic medicine has some strange practices.
Actually, I think Paula might be on to something with the leech jar guess 😉
Author
Doctors now say that Washington died because his doctors either used leeches or cut a vein and bled him. So glad I didn’t live back in the day!
I’ve been to a number of antebellum mansions. I’m thinking it had to do with “luring” flies/bugs into it so they wouldn’t be on the food or table? Now, if you ask me about the mirrors on the lower part of tables and chests in hallways, that one I can remember. 🙂 Have fun in Natchez, a beautiful city!
Author
It is a beautiful city, Jan. We’ll see next week if the jar was to catch flies/bugs. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
I have no idea, but will say to put alcohol in to give to a patient.
Author
Love that answer, Lucy! We’ll see Tuesday if it the correct one. 🙂
The clear jar was used for liquid samples.
We’ll see, Caryl. Thanks for stopping by.
For a special liquor?
Author
We’ll see MS Barb, we’ll see. Thanks for stopping by.
I don’t drink but I would say it’s a brandy sniffer. It was given to women who swooned from wearing a very tight corset.
Author
I love that Janet! We’ll see on Tuesday. Thanks for stopping by!