238 TOBACCO-riPES, CIGARS, etc. 



materials for obtaining a light, are provided with an 

 elaborate apparatus of silver tubing, through, which a 

 smouldering cord of coloured cotton can be drawn, 

 lit by means of a flint, elegantly fashioned from the 

 purest stone, struck against an equally tasteful steel; 

 the whole process being an elegant and costly realisa- 

 tion of " much ado about nothing," chiefly patronised 

 by " heavy swells," who take tobacco more for the sake 

 of ostentation than pleasure. 



There is no indulgence that more completely equal- 

 ises itself to all classes than that of tobacco. It is 

 possible, as we have seen, to make it a very expensive 

 taste ; but it is equally possible to make it a cheap 

 one. Tobacco will give as much enjoyment to the 

 poor man in his clay pipe, as to the nobleman in his 

 jewelled Meerschaum. Indeed, it may be doubted if 

 the pleasures of the poor are not greater ; and there 

 is much truth, as well as sound philosophy, in the 

 morale of tobacco-smoking, which we have seen en- 

 forced by many whose opinions are of value, and 

 whose indulgence has been limited to temperate and 

 wholesome enjoyment. 



