86 The Soverane Herbe 



speedily came to regard smoking with that odium 

 which only the last generation has removed. It was 

 tabooed by good society and snuff-taking substituted 

 for it as an accomplishment essential to all who 

 would be considered ladies or gentlemen. 



The middle classes in time imitated the freak of 

 their social superiors and ceased smoking. But it 

 never lost its popularity among the people, though it 

 was regarded as synonymous with blackguardism and 

 the lowest vices. The movement against it was slow 

 except in the highest ranks, for Walpole's Excise 

 Bill of 1732 was defeated chiefly owing to the heavy 

 duties it imposed on tobacco. But by 1773 Dr. John- 

 son declared that ' smoking has gone out.' Ten 

 years earlier Mrs. Bellamy said that it was most 

 unusual in England and Scotland for ' gentlemen of 

 any politeness ' to call for a pipe. The Regent 

 banned smoking and took snuff. What the first 

 gentleman in Britain scorned was, of course, scorned 

 more by society. 



How debased was smoking a century ago the 

 following incident strikingly shows : The famous 

 Dr. Parr, going over from Bath to see Clifton and 

 Bristol, called for refreshment at the Bush, the 

 famous coaching inn of the western city. After his 

 meal he called for a pipe. The waiter informed him 

 that smoking was not permitted at the Bush. 



' What !' exclaimed Parr ; ' send your master here.' 



The waiter returned with his superior. 



' Are you the master of this inn ?' asked Parr. 



' No, sir, I am the head-waiter ; the master is 

 engaged on business.' 



