MODERATE SMOKING. 



means uncommon ; for whatever be the business, no matter 

 how serious, in which the Turk is engaged, he must smoke 

 at it. In the divan, where the grandees of the empire consult 

 together on the most delicate affairs of State, the question 

 was once mooted whether the tchbukdes should not be 

 excluded from such debates as were of a strictly private 

 nature. There was a great diversity of opinion on the sub- 

 ject. Politics and reason were on opposite sides. At last it 

 was decided that they would not disgrace an ancient national 

 usage, but would allow the harmless attendants to enter the 

 council-room every now and then to change the pipes. In 

 Turkey, pipes and tobacco afford means of distinguishing not 

 only the different classes of the community, but even the 

 several graduates of rank in the same class. A mushir (mar- 

 shal) would find it derogatory to his dignity to smoke out of 

 a stem less than two yards in length. The artisan or official 

 of a lower rank, would consider it highly unbecoming on his 

 part to use one which exceeded the proper proportions of his 

 class. A superior stretches his pipe before him to his inferior ; 

 while the latter must hold his modestly on one side, only 

 allowing the end of the mouth-piece to peep out of his closed 

 fist. 



" The pasha has the right to puff out his smoke before 

 him like a steam engine, while his inferiors are only allowed 

 to breathe forth a light curl of smoke, and that must be let 

 off backwards. Not to smoke at all in the presence of a 

 superior, is held the most delicate homage which can be paid 

 him. A son, for instance, acts in this manner in the presence 

 of his father, and only such a one is considered to be well 

 brought up who declines to smoke even after his father has 

 repeatedly invited him to do so. The fair sex in the East is 

 scarcely less addicted to the use of this weed. 



" The girl of twelve years old smokes a cigarette of tho 

 thickness of pack-thread. When she has attained her four- 

 teenth or fifteenth year, and is already marriageable, she is 

 allowed to indulge her penchant at will, which is forbidden 

 when younger. After this age the diameter of the cigarette 

 increases year by year; and when a lady has readied tho 

 mature age of twenty-four, no one sees anything remarkable 

 in her smoking a modest little chibouque as she sits on the 

 lower divan of the harem. Elderly matrons and in Turkey 

 every lady is an elderly matron in her fortieth year are 

 passionately devoted to this enjoyment. The pipe-bowls and 

 stems always remain of the size appropriated by etiquette to 



