TOBACCO AND ITS HISTORY. 19 



chi(-f reply that can bo given to this iiKiuiiy is based on the 

 apology thiit a lai-gi; luajoiity of sinok(.'rs l)a\e ignorant ly been 

 led to iovxn the habit in ' outh, without cousideriiig the matter 

 of waste, right or wrong, in connection with their undertaking. 

 It is a fact not to be controverted, that boys chielly learn to 

 smoke through flattery or inntation of men, and because it is 

 considered gentlemanlike! and attractive to puff a " Havana" on 

 the street, or in the presence of ladies ; and thus the habit 

 grows, until its devotees have h-arned to love and roll the 

 "vile stuff" as a sweet morsel under their tongue, and become 

 bound to their idol with adamantine chains. 



Itowevcn- others may think a\)0ut th(i matter, the wi-iter of 

 this essay cannot help ha\ iiig a fellow-foeling for the boy who 

 is tempted to use Tobacc(\ Haviig in boyhood endured such 

 temptation, the import of its meaning can yet be realized. 

 The ni'dit his old school-teacher induced him to tiv his 

 "meerschaum" and be a man, shall be held in everlasting 

 remembi'anc(i. 



At that time almost evcnybodv smoked, snuffed or chewed 

 Tobacco. Theological professors used the drug in ]>!ofusion. 

 Young men at college considered smoking part of their educa- 

 tion. In the house of mourning the fumes of tobacco filled the 

 ajjartment where the corpse was laid, blending up the flue as 



A PERFUMED BURNT-OFFERING FOR THE DEAD, 



whilst its associate " champagne " was coi)iously drank to soothe 

 the miseries of tlie living. Those who have se(>n an " Irish 

 wake " recpiire no further information on this point. 



If reports are to be accredited, an old bachelor in those days 

 going forth in the gloaming, to trade for a housekeei)er, took a 

 bone for the dog, candy for the bal>y, whiskey for the old man, 

 and a " coil " of tobacco for his intended mother-indaw. Some- 

 thing of" the same kind was also considered a respectable "tit- 

 out" for a young man like " Oelcobs in Search of a Wife." 



The American Continent, it seems, was not far behind the 



