3i8 The Soverane Herbe 



and speed, not perfection, is the universal aim, 

 tobacco affords man a resting-place and shelter 

 from storm and stress. Smoking leads to contem- 

 plation and meditation. There are people who 

 cannot do nothing ; inaction is impossible to them, 

 and yet though eternally busy they do nothing. 

 A smoking man may be slow to commence, but he 

 accomplishes his task better than the fraternity of fuss. 

 Smoking affords man an opportunity for formulating 

 his plans ; he takes his time about things, judges 

 the ultimate effect of the action he is about to take, 

 shaping his plans accordingly. He is cautious to 

 move, but having surveyed his ground, marches forward 

 boldly, knowing and ready to overcome the obstacles 

 in his path. But he does not dawdle ; his pipe 

 teaches him that action must be prompt. He must 

 keep his pipe in, the tobacco aglow. 



Tobacco the parent of idleness and indolence ? Were 

 the worthies of Queen Elizabeth indolent from the use 

 of tobacco, or did they not find it ' make them more 

 useful in their callings ' ? Were Raleigh, Cromwell, 

 Tennyson, Carlyle and all the noble army of smokers 

 made indolent and lazy by their use of tobacco? 

 Did it make them less noble, less able to perform 

 their life duties, or did it not smooth their lives, calm 

 their souls, and inspire some of their great projects 

 and noble thoughts ? 



Half an hour's quiet smoke is good for soul, mind 

 and body. Over a pipe man calmly regards himself, 

 his life, his deeds. It removes him from the bondage 

 of the body, raises his thoughts to a higher plane, 

 and open his eyes to the reality of things. As Sam 



