284 The Soverane Herbe 



prisoners should be deprived of all implements lest 

 they should assassinate their judges. ' Two shifty 

 male citizens who were eager,' says Carlyle, ' to pre- 

 serve an implement or two, were it but a pipe-picker 

 or a needle to darn hose with, determined to prevent 

 themselves by tobacco ; they light their pipes to 

 begin smoking. Thick darkness envelops them. 

 The red nightcaps, opening the cell, breathe but one 

 mouthful, and burst forth into a chorus of barking and 

 coughing. " Quoi, messieurs !" cry the citizens, 

 " you don't smoke ? Is the pipe disagreeable ? Est- 

 ce que vous ne fumez pas ?" But the red nightcaps 

 have fled, with slight search. " Vous n'aimez-pas 

 la pipe ?" cry the citizens as their door slams to 

 again. My poor brother citizens ! oh, surely in a 

 reign of brotherhood you are not the two I would 

 guillotine.' 



In these days of toleration the smoker is per- 

 mitted a wide range. Thirty years ago the stable 

 was thought the fit place for smoking. Now every 

 house has a smoking-room, dignified by the name 

 of ' study.' The smoker can pursue his favourite 

 recreation in the railway train, though waiting-rooms 

 at stations are forbidden him. Mrs. Grundy is no 

 longer shocked at smoking in the streets. Blessed 

 with good sense and grace, the smoker can exercise 

 his inspiring faculties in nearly every circumstance 

 of life. Indeed, so omnipotent and omnipresent has 

 tobacco become that it should be seriously con- 

 sidered whether smokers should continue to be 

 officially regarded as forming the minority. Why 

 should not railway carriages' be regarded as primarily 



