Snuff and Snuff- takers 265 



give themselves occasion for pretty action, or to fill 

 up little intervals of discourse, I can bear writh them ; 

 but then they must not use it when another is speak- 

 ing who ought to be heard with too much respect 

 to admit of offering at that time from hand to hand 

 the snuff-box. Yet Flavilla is so far taken with her 

 behaviour in this kind that she pulls out her box 

 (which is, indeed, full of good Brazil) in the middle 

 of the sermon, and, to show she has the audacity of 

 a well-bred woman, she offers it to the men as well 

 as the women who sit near her ; but since by this 

 time all the world knows she has a fine hand, I am 

 in hopes she may give herself no further trouble in 

 this matter. On Sunday was seven night ; when 

 they came about for the offering she gave her charity 

 with a very good air, but at the same time asked the 

 churchwarden if he would take a pinch !' 



Boswell wrote several poems in praise of tobacco 

 and snuff, asking of the latter : 



' Who takes thee not ? Where'er I range 

 I smell thy sweets from Pall Mall to the 'Change. 



' By thee assisted ladies kill the day. 

 And breathe their scandal freely o'er their tea.'* 



A gentleman was then known by his snuff and snuff- 

 box. Pope wrote : 



' Sir Plume, of amber snuff-box justly vain, 

 And the nice conduct of a clouded cane. 

 With earnest eyes and round, unthinking face 

 He first the snuff-box opened, then the case.' 



The method of taking snuff and tricks of opening 

 * Tea was then pronounced tay. 



