SMOKERS' STORIES. 99 



nizes the society, and soothes at once the 

 speaker and the subject whereon he con- 

 verses. I have no doubt that it is from 

 the habit of smoking that the Turks and 

 American Indians are such monstrous 

 well-bred men. The pipe draws wisdom 

 from the lips of the philosopher, and shuts 

 up the mouth of the foolish ; it generates 

 a style of conversation, contemplative, 

 thoughtful, benevolent, and unaffected; 

 in fact, dear Bob, I must out with it, 

 I am an old smoker. At home, I have 

 done it up the chimney rather than not 

 do it (the which I own is a crime). 



I vow and believe that the cigar has 

 been one of the greatest creature-com- 

 forts of my life a kind companion, a 

 gentle stimulant, an amiable anodyne, a 

 cementer of friendship. 



THACKERAY. 



