New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-25
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
TOBACCO; ITS USE AND ABUSE.

are the results of acquired tastes and which haon
often makes as mpulsive as our natural wants Thus
are created the Injuries Of life, and to increase the
de,sht which we derive from such sources OF ENJOY
ent We endeavor TO refine to ethereelze their orns,
and ia dvest them of all sensual and grosser accom-
parimenis.
Amopg such Injuries the use of Tobacco Is pre-
eminent which. when imbibed in it, most exquisite
forms il the source Of the most refined enjoyment,
creating those reveres and dreamy sensations which
float for the moment about our stess senses AMI be-
cIoudipg with silvery vapor some Of LIES duh
realities.
Tobacco ever since its first Introduction to the civ
;ized world has became so indispensable an item of
consumption that it has long been ranked among the
stape con modities of life, and seems to claim the
double title of natural and artificial taste Yet ns
form Of Measure and exhiaration has ever been the
subiect Of 20 much study, the ways and means OF
ENJOYING this fragrant weed.
All the world are well of the different forms in
which tobacco is used, viz: Inhalng in the form OF
smoke titilatng the nostrils by its powder called
snuff or mbibng the Juice into the system by the pro-
cess If mastcation The two latter 70 ms OF ENJOY
ing this luxury to admit of no refinement as time
ba. rolled on and shutting and chewing yet remain in
their pristine state Of simplicity.
On the contrary no ingenuity has been spared to in
vent, improve or remodel the various vehicles by
which the more exquisite and graceful practice of
smoking may be enjoyed
A very interesting article appeared in HdrPers
Mago.ine Of June last the History and Mystery
" of T bacco, in which we are very agreeaoy enter
tanned with its initiation into the civilized world from
the line of its discovery by Columbus among the
American Indians to the present day, as wen IS
with description of the numerous utensils en-
ploytd by various rations for its use Although
tobacco NAV have been Indigenous 10 America, yet
we have the assertion OF Professor Beekman ID cor
roborae the fact that this plant was known to the
Tartars long before the discovery OF America. As
early as the year 1910 native Turk was paraded
through the streets Of Constantnope with pipe
transfxed through his nose, the penalty of nddis-
ing in the pastime of smoking, which was then IN
great disrepnte.
Tobacco was introduced into England soon after the
discovery a. Colunbus by Sir Walter Raleigh and
thence found its way into Europe; but net until ht-
teen wears after do we hear of it among the Turks,
whence it seems that the Orientals must have
acquired their knowledge of this plant through some
other channel most probably from their Tartar neigh
bors But from whatever cline we first derived
this fragrant weed there is doubt that the earliest
method of using it in pipe and not in the form
of cgGs, or by imbibng the juice by chewing
latter practice was unknown to the early lovers of to-
bacco and is Impractical by the Orentals even at
this day.
As the aromatic plant by degrees became essential
to the happiness of mankind, even ncludag the fair
sex doubtless the ncon> enience of the pipe suggested
the idea of some more portable form, whence the III
voniion OF cigars.
In Holland in 1870 they smoked out of concal tubes
made of palm-leaves plated together and subse
quently the leaf OF the plant rolled up and the
present form of cigars adopted. The only recon-
mend alton of the form of cigars is It's convenience;
but many amateurs pretend that they thus attain a
stronger relish of the tobacco than from pipes.
The cigar is certainly strong in its fumes, but
whether the relish il greater is matter to be ques
toned and in this form the furious and even poison
Gus pIopert, of the plant impaired to the sys
TEN. Besces there is the close proximity Of the fire
TO ts c nth ard teeth; secondly, the condensation
of the essential oil the lips, leaving yellow tnge
around the mouth; thirdly, the gradual dissoying Of
the end of the segar in the mouth producing by its
nicotine property irritation of the gums and the
calvary glands; fourhy, there is the necessity Of
always holding the cigar, which in the course of time
impars elbow tinge to the sgers fftbly, the dan
ger Of iurihg The clothes and furniture by the con-
start falling of the ashes sixthy the eyes suffer from
their proximity to the heated fumes; and last but not
least there is the satisfaction of mbbicg the nectar
juice of some black mOu b, for the black nymphs who
are employed in this manufacture Always savate
THEN hsndiwork by way of giving it smooth and
handsome finish. Surely, could amateurs but
witness the manufacture of their favorte Havanas
they would forever eschew that form Of the aromatic
weed.
But apart from all these considerations, the very
coRUeRieHoe Of the cigar becomes objection; for
being always at hand, the too frequent use Of IL has
converted the pleasure into evil-Such constant
craving being excited that even the health is injured.
Doubtless this perverted tsse in circumst where
smoking has not been permitted, as board ships,
behind counters, in offices, &C., has induced the per-
nicious practice of chewing.
Those nations who retained the original, natural,
and simplest mode Of enjoy ing the weed have never
reliI pushed the pipe but have varied the form of
this implement and much beauiifed and improved it.
The people who have ret ned the use Of the pipe arc
the Dutch, English, Scotch, Germans, Turks Per-
SLAMS and 81 Orientals In the perfection of the art
of smoking the Persians may rank first; then the
Turks, Dutch English, and last Of all the Germans.
Tie Persians rank high in this respect because they
have studied the philosophy of enjoying the fumes of
tobacco in their greatest purity. This they have at.
tanned by passing the smoke through water and thus
purifying it rom the essential oil of the plant. The
ksleon and hookah of Hindosian, the shishs of the
Arabs, or tie narghille of the Turks is air.tight
yesse partially filed with water on the top Of which
is bowl t. contain the ignited tobacco. From this
bowl tObe descends into the water and the long and
flexible pipe inserted into the vessel above the level
of the water. When the smoker begins to draw