DIFFERENT TASTES. 



257 



And in the 4 Life of Themistocles,' Plutarch informs his readers 

 that sneezing by the General on the eve of a battle was 

 regarded as a certain sign of conquest. Strangely enough 

 we find that in comparatively modern times, the custom of 

 giving expression to good wishes when a friend sneezed was 

 attributed to the fearful plague which periodically swept 

 over Europe. Sneezing was one of its first and most dan- 

 gerous symptoms, and those who were by, as they gathered 

 their robes about them and fled from their doomed fellow- 

 creature, would ejaculate a quick ' God bless you,' hurriedly 

 invoking from a more merciful quarter the aid they feared 

 to give. Violent sneezing was not only among the first, but 

 was one of the last fatal signs of that fearful scourge, and 

 was often too rapidly followed by death to give time for more 

 than a short benediction. Anyhow, the custom still exists and 

 one of the most pleasant reminiscences attached to the first 

 pinch of snuff is the chorus of hearty good wishes of sympa- 

 thizing friends which follows upon the inevitable sneeze." 



The variety of taste in snuff is accounted for by the prov- 

 erb, " So many men to so many noses." Highland gentle- 

 men of every degree are mostly fond of Gillespie ; while 



HIGHLANDERS. 



operatives from the Lowlands generally prefer plain Scotch. 

 "When two Highlanders meet, they usually exchange a pinch 

 17 



