258 RISE AND PROGRESS OF SNUFF-TAKING. 



of snuff, mutually preeing the contents of their mulls, while 

 their colleys, (dogs) after a fashion of their own, take a 

 reciprocal sniff 'of each other. Cuba is the favorite of the 

 gentlemen of the stock exchange; the tradesman's box 

 usually contains rappee ; high dried Irish is grateful to those 

 who love to feel the taste of snuff in their throat. Sea-faring 

 men seldom take snuff : a sailor with a snuff-box is as rarely 

 to be met with as a sailor without a knife. 



The history of the rise and progress of snuff-taking abounds 

 in incidents and anecdotes, among the most curious of all 

 that relate to the various modes of using the weed. Though 

 once the most popular and fashionable manner of using 

 tobacco it now falls far behind the other and more common 

 and more popular forms of indulging in the herb. In France 

 and Spain the introduction of tobacco ushered in this form of 

 using it, and to inhale a few grains of the pungent dust was 

 the delight of polished and favored courtiers who regardless 

 of the forms royalty patronized and gave sanction to the 

 custom. Thus its use in a short time became popular all 

 over Europe and gave unlimited scope for the satirist and 

 dramatist to ridicule the habit. In spite, however, of frown 

 and ridicule this ancient custom though not now as popular 

 or as fashionable, still claims many sincere votaries and 

 doubtless will as long as the plant is cultivated or used in any 

 form. 



