292 SNUFF AND SNUFF-BOXES. 



There has been a very pretty " social-box" manufac- 

 tured, to roll round the table after dinner is concluded 

 at clubs, and social gatherings of a public nature. It 

 represents a Cupid guiding a closed barrow, whose lid 



when opened displays a fair supply of snuff. Large 

 boxes of favourite snuffs are generally kept for such 

 gatherings, at the cost of the landlord of the house. 

 Boxes decorated with paintings were great favourites in 

 the days of Anne and George I.; having pastoral scenes 

 as described in Arbuckle's Poem on Snuff, 1719 : — 



Here "bends the milkmaid to the laden cows, 

 And there fat sheep in lusty pastures browse, 

 Fond cooing turtles through the meadows stray, 

 And nymphs and shepherds not less fond than they." 



Very large sums have been expended in painting 

 such boxes ; and artists of much eminence have 

 devoted their talent to the work. Many that emanate 



