Mr. Turtle's Dirty Little Secret

Photos taken inside the Hobart Historical Society museum.

It's a cast iron turtle … innocent enough …


(Click on images to enlarge)

but push down on its head and the shell flips up —



IT'S A SPITTOON!!!!! YUCK!!!!!!!

It rests on the floor. The chewer of tobacco walks up to it, presses on the head with his foot, takes aim and spits into the bowl thus uncovered. He does not lie on the floor like an amateur photographer to press on the head with his hand.