116 WEIGHT OF SMOKE. 



" 'Tis a friend to the distress'd, 

 'Tis a comforter in need ; 

 It is social, soothing, blest; 

 It has fragrance, force, and zest ; 

 Then hail the kingly weed !" 



While Raleigh * and many of Elizabeth's courtiers indulged 

 frequently in a pipe, some have imagined that even Queen 

 Bess herself tested the rare virtues of tobacco. This is 

 hardly based upon sufficient proof to warrant a very strong 

 belief in it ; but the following account of " How to weigh 

 smoke " taken from Tinsletfs Magazine shows that the Queen 

 was acquainted at least with Raleigh's use of the weed : 



" One day it happened that Queen Elizabeth, wandering 

 about the grounds and alleys at Hampton with a single maid 

 of honour, came upon Sir "Walter Raleigh indulging in a 

 pipe. Smoking now is as common as eating and drinking, 

 and to smoke amongst ladies is a vulgarity. But not so then : 

 it was an accomplishment, it was a distinction ; and one of 

 the feathers in Sir Walter's towering cap was his introduction 

 of tobacco. The all-accomplished hero rose and saluted the 

 Queen in his grand manner, and the Queen, who was in her 

 daintiest humour, gave him her white hand to kiss, and took 

 the seat he had left. 



" Now, Sir Walter, I can puzzle you at last." " I suppose' 

 I must not be so rude as to doubt your Majesty." " You are 

 bold enough for that, but your boldness will not help you, 

 Sir Walter, this time. You cannot tell me how much the 

 smoke from your pipe weighs." " Your Majesty is mistaken. 

 I can tell you to a nicety. Will your Majesty allow me to 

 call yonder page, and send for a pair of scales and weights ? '. 

 " By my honour," said the Queen, " were any other subject 

 in our realm to make request so absurd, we should very 

 positively deny it. But you are the wisest of our fools, and, 

 though we expect to see but little use made of these weights 

 when brought, your request shall be granted. And, suppos- 

 ing you fail to weigh the smoke, what penalty will you pay ?" 

 " I will be content," said Sir Walter, " to lose my head." 

 " You may chance to lose it on a graver count than this ; " 

 answered the Queen. " If the head shall have done some 



* It la said that Raleigh in communicating the art to his friends, gave smoking parties at 

 his nouse, where his guests were treated with nothing but a pipe, a mug of ale. and a 

 nutmeg. Saysaa English writer: "From the anecdote related respecting the weight of 

 smoke, the vapor of the pipe certainly did not throw a cloud over the brilliant wit of the 



unfortunate Kaicigh. 1 



