SMOKERS' STORIES. 93 



of her horses, her favorite dogs, her chil- 

 dren, and her grandchild. She hates 

 brilliant assemblies, and thinks parlia- 

 ments contemptible. Very capricious 

 and strong-willed in carrying out her 

 whims, she can, in the German fashion, 

 put rank aside, and be very charming to 

 those who surround her, if such is her 

 good pleasure. Captain Middleton, who 

 is her esquire in the hunting-fields of 

 England and Ireland, has never had a 

 harsh word from her Majesty. With the 

 circus-girl Elsie, who was a year or two 

 ago the idol of the Parisian boulevardiers, 

 her Majesty is almost motherly. The two 

 smoke cigarettes together, and talk gayly 

 on equestrian subjects the only subjects, 

 indeed, which interest the Kaiserin. 



AN INGENIOUS SMOKER. 



THE famous Bishop Burnet, like many 

 authors of later days, was very partial to 

 tobacco, and always smoked while he was 



