Tobacco and Genius 255 



report, and inquired as to its truth, Mr. Spurgeon 

 curtly replied that he cultivated his flowers and 

 burned his weeds. 



The objections of the ' unco guid ' to tobacco were 

 neatly answered by Pope Pius IX., who, receiving an 

 Englishman of the highest rank in private audience, 

 offered him a cigar. 



' You will find this very good,' he said. 



' Thank you, your Holiness, but I am not addicted 

 to this vice.' 



' It isn't a vice,' cuttingly replied the Holy Father, 

 himself a smoker, ' or probably you would be.' 



Leo XIII. does not smoke, but takes snuff. 



Though Queen Victoria detested tobacco, and 

 prohibited its use in any place frequented by her, 

 King Edward's liking for a smoke is well known. 

 To his patronage of tobacco the changed aspect 

 of society during the last fifty years to its use is 

 largely due. Like his royal father, the King does 

 not smoke a pipe, confining himself to cigars and 

 cigarettes. During his visit to Canada in 1859, he 

 and his party found themselves on the prairie miles 

 from human habitation. The Prince, as he was then, 

 proposed a smoke, to which all agreed ; but it was 

 found that the whole party had only one match 

 between them. On the successful ignition of that 

 match depended the pleasure of the whole suite. 

 Lots were drawn to decide on whom should fall the 

 responsible duty of striking it. The lot fell to the 

 Prince. Sheltered from the wind by his companions, 

 he successfully accomplished the feat, but afterwards 

 declared that it was the most exciting and nervous 



