Nicotiana 285 



for the use of smokers, and, following the Russian 

 example in setting apart carriages for ladies who 

 do not smoke, label one or two compartments as 

 non-smoking ? 



The capacity of some smokers is equal to that of 

 Niklas Henkerwyssel, who, according to the Dutch 

 legend, sold his soul to the Devil for the ability to 

 smoke all the time. The average consumption of 

 tobacco per smoker in the United Kingdom is under 

 2\ ounces per week, taking one-third of the popula- 

 tion as smokers. Some men regularly smoke half a 

 pound a week, besides chewing a couple of ounces 

 of thick twist. Others regularly buy an ounce of 

 P^rique, the strongest tobacco in the world, in the 

 morning, and consume it in cigarettes during the 

 day, and what that means only those who have 

 attempted P^rique can realize. 



No one has ever disputed the right of Mynheer 

 Van Klaes, who flourished about forty years ago, 

 to the title of the ' King of Smokers.' His den 

 was a museum of nicotian relics, containing specimens 

 of every kind of tobacco smoked in the world and 

 every kind of pipe through which the nations draw 

 inspiration. Here he smoked constantly, incessantly 

 (his life-consumption was estimated at 4 tons of 

 tobacco, or 10 pounds every week of his sixty smoking 

 years — he died at eighty-one), devoting his whole 

 life to the burning of incense to Nicotia. His funeral 

 was in harmony with his life. By his express direc- 

 tion his coffin was lined with the wood of old cigar- 

 boxes. At his feet were placed a bladder of the 

 finest Dutch golden-leaf and a packet of caporal; 



