TOBACCO A BLESSING. 123 



wealth. They doubtless in some measure comprehended the 

 close relation existing between it and commerce and realized 

 how extensive would be its use. 



From the nature of the plant, it affords states and nations 

 an opportunity to engage either in its culture or commerce 

 with the prospect of the largest success. In this respect it is 

 far different from any other tropical plant, and unlike them 

 is capable of being cultivated in portions of the earth far 

 remote from the tropics. In Switzerland and in the Caucas- 

 sias it attains to a considerable size, but is nevertheless 

 tobacco although it may possess but few of the excellences of 

 some varieties, still it affords some enjoyment to the user, 

 from the fact that it is the Indian weed. Fairholt speaking 

 of the tobacco trade says : 



" The progress of the tobacco trade from the earliest intro- 

 duction of the plant into Europe until now, is certainly one of 

 the most curious that commerce presents. That a plant 

 originally smoked by a few savages, should succeed in spite 

 of the most stringent opposition in church and state, to be 

 the cherished luxury of the whole civilized world ; to increase 

 with the increase of time, and to end in causing so vast a 

 trade, and so large an outlay of money ; is a statistical fact, 

 without an equal parallel." 



The tobacco plant notwithstanding its fascinating powers, 

 has suffered many romantic vicissitudes in its fame and 

 character; having been successively opposed and com- 

 mended by physicians, condemned and eulogized by priests, 

 vilified and venerated by kings, ' and alternately pro- 

 scribed and protected by governments, this once insignifi- 

 cant production of a little island or an obscure district, has 

 succeeded in diffusing itself throughout every clime, and 

 exhilarating and enriching its thousands has subjected the 

 inhabitants of every country to its dominion. And every 

 where it is a source of comfort and enjoyment; in the highest 

 grades of civilized society, at the shrine of fashion, in the 

 depths of poverty, in the palace and in the cottage, the 

 fascinating influence of this singular plant demands an equal 

 tribute of devotion and attachment. 



