INTRODUCTORY 



THE history and associations of tobacco carry the thoughts 

 back to the jubilant days when Good Queen Bess was the 

 idol of her people, to the stirring times when bounding 

 gaiety and lusty banter found expression in unrestrained 

 mirth as readily in the open street as within doors. The 

 writer's aim in the following chapters has been to bring 

 together (in a somewhat desultory way, it may be) the 

 chief features of interest which the story of the ' Indian's 

 herb' presents to us to-day. The social element un- 

 doubtedly dominates all others ; this, coupled with the 

 primitive belief in its medicinal properties, at once secured 

 for it the good-will of men longing for knowledge of the 

 New World and ever ready to adopt an indulgence so 

 alluring. That this feeling was universal is shewn by the 

 rapidity with which the smoking habit spread over the 

 Earth wherever there was a human habitation. No less 

 remarkable is the sturdy tenacity with which men every- 

 where stuck to it despite the determined opposition of 

 potentates and pontiffs. 



In the eyes of her votaries St Nicotine's virtues are 

 rare and manifold. Indeed all sorts of pretty things have 

 been said and sung in her praise , and as becomes a faithful 

 devotee at her shrine the writer believes them all as impli- 

 citly well, as a child believes fairy tales. Many a non- 

 smoker when questioned about his indifference to her 

 gracious influence has heaved a pensive sigh and lamented 

 Dame Nature's ill-usage in denying him the taste for the 

 nicotian incense. Consolation comes not to him when 

 told that the good genius has knit together a brotherhood 

 who, regaled with her balmy breath, realize the touch of 

 nature which makes the whole world kin ; that on her 

 approach petty vexations vanish into space, and fancy, 

 untrammelled, roves in Parnassian bowers, or sees in the 

 vapour rising from the bowl nebulous forms resembling 

 those in the far-off starry sky. 



