SMOKERS* STORIES. 



NAPOLEON'S FIRST PIPE. 



CONSTANT relates the following anec- 

 dote of the great NAPOLEON, who once 

 took a fancy to smoke, for the purpose of 

 trying a very fine Oriental pipe which 

 had been presented to him by a Turkish 

 or Persian ambassador. 



" Fire having been brought, it only 

 remained to communicate it to the tobacco, 

 but that could never be effected by the 

 method which his Majesty adopted. He 

 contented himself with alternately open- 

 ing and shutting his mouth, without 

 attempting to draw in his breath. ' Oh. 

 the devil ! ' cried he at last, ' there will be 

 no end of this business.' I observed to 

 him that he did it half-heartedly, and 

 showed him how he ought to begin. But 

 the Emperor always returned to his 

 yawning. Wearied by his vain efforts, he 

 at last desired me to light the pipe. I 

 obeyed, and gave it to him. But scarcely 



