To Smoke or Not to Smoke ? 317 



tobacco began to be smoked by the upper classes forty 

 or fifty years ago, to be ' as drunk as a lord ' was a 

 popular comparative. It was then the exception for 

 gentlemen to arrive in the drawing-room from dessert 

 undiminished in numbers and sanity. The introduc- 

 tion of tobacco after dinner has undoubtedly decreased 

 drunkenness. There are few men who do not enjoy 

 a smoke more than a drink, and who, obliged to 

 surrender alcohol or tobacco, would give up the 

 latter. Nowadays, instead of sitting down to claret 

 in single-minded purpose, the diner lights his cigar. 

 He sips while he smokes ; he does not smoke while 

 drinking. The consequence is that wine is slighted 

 for tobacco ; Bacchus is deserted for Nicotia, for no 

 man can serve two masters. It is a complaint of 

 members of the passing generation that men of the 

 young school do not care for wine, and scorn it for 

 cigar or cigarette. 



To smoke or not to smoke ? If not, why not ? 

 Physically, mentally, and morally beneficial, what 

 pleasure can exceed the delectable devotion of 

 smoking ? With pipe and pouch your smoker needs 

 no other companion or pleasure. He takes it about 

 with him, and it never fails him if he never fails it. 

 There is no cheaper and purer pleasure than that of a 

 quiet smoke — 



' Sweet when the morn is gray, 

 Sweet when they've cleared away 

 Lunch, and at close of day 

 Possibly sweetest.' 



In these days of spasmodic speed, volcanic rush, 

 and eternal hurry, when quiet has lost its meaning 



