DIFFERENT TASTES. 257 
And in the‘ Life of Themistocles,’ Plutarch informs his readers 
that sneezing by the General on the eve of a battle was 
regarded as a certain sign of conquest. Strangely enough 
we find that in comparatively modern times, the custom of 
giving expression to good wishes when a friend sneezed was 
attributed to the fearful plague which periodically swept 
over Europe. Sneezing was one of its first and most dan- 
gerous symptoms, and those who were by, as they gathered 
their robes about them and fled from their doomed fellow- 
creature, would ejaculate a quick ‘ God bless you, hurriedly 
invoking from a more merciful quarter the aid they feared 
to give. Violent sneezing was not only among the first, but 
was one of the last fatal signs of that fearful scourge, and 
was often too rapidly followed by death to give time for more 
than ashort benediction. Anyhow, the custom still exists and 
one of the most pleasant reminiscences attached to the first 
pinch of snuff is the chorus of hearty good wishes of sympa- 
thizing friends which follows upon the inevitable sneeze.” 
The variety of taste in snuff is accounted for by the prov- 
erb, “So many men to so many noses.” Highland gentle- 
men of every degree are mostly fond of Gillespie; while 
HIGHLANDERS. 
operatives from the Lowlands generally prefer plain Scotch. 
When two Highlanders meet, they usually exchange a pinch 
Le 
