A SMOKER'S RHAPSODY. 87 



model of theirs, so original ; and, finally, the preparation of 

 the leaves so peculiar, that they could not possibly derive all 

 this from America by way of Europe, especially as India, 

 where the practice of smoking is not so general, intervenes 

 between Persia and China. Meyen also states that the con- 

 sumption of tobacco in the Chinese empire is of immense 

 extent, and the practice seems to be of great antiquity, "for 

 on very old sculptures I have observed the very same tobacco 

 pipes which are still used." Besides, we now know that the 

 plant which furnishes the Chinese tobacco is even said to 

 grow wild in the East Indies. 



" Tobacco," says London, " was introduced into the county 

 of Cork, with the potatoe, by Sir "Walter Raleigh." A 

 quaint writer of this period says of the plant : " Tobacco, 

 that excellent plant, the use whereof (as of fifth element) the 

 world cannot want, is that little shop of Nature, wherein her 

 whole workmanship is abridged ; where you may see earth 

 kindled into fire, the fire breathe out an exhalation, which 

 enteriirg in at the mouth walks through the regions of a 

 man's brain, drives out all ill vapors but itself, draws down 

 all bad humors by the mouth, which in time might breed a 

 scab over the whole body, if already they have not ; a plant 

 of singular use ; for, on the one side Nature being an enemy 

 to vacuity and emptiness and on the other, there being so 

 many empty brains in the world as there are, how shall 

 Nature's course be continued? How shall those empty 

 brains be filled but with air, Nature's immediate instrument 

 to that purpose ? If with air, what so proper as your fume ; 

 what fume so healthful as your perfume, what perfume so 

 sovereign as tobacco. Besides the excellent edge it gives a 

 man's wit, as they but judge that have been present at a 

 feast of tobacco, where commonly all good wits are consoled ; 

 what variety of discourse it begets, what sparks of wit it 

 yields?"* 



The name of Sir Walter is intimately connected with the 

 history of tobacco, and is associated with many of the bril- 

 liant exploits and explorations during the reign of the 

 illustrious Elizabeth.f His name has come down to us as 



*A writer In the "New England Magazine" says in a different strain : "This is the enemy that 

 men put in their mouths, to steal away their health. This has 311ed the camp, the court, the 

 grove. It is found in the pulpit, the senate.the bar and the boudoir." 



tThorpe, in his "History and Mystery of Tobacco," relates the following anecdote : " Tra- 

 dition says, that in the time of Queen Elizabeth Sir Walter Raleigh used to Bit at his door 

 With Sir Hugh Middleton and smoke." 



