The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-10-18
Riag Games CounteTbEast 80
EoB3CCO.

\ friend has put INTO our handS copy
OF .sKng James Countcrblast to Tobac-
co" published in pamphlet form by
Charles Beckington, Newcastle-upon-Iyne. y
Ia the preface it IS stated that this Hrera-
ry curiosity was first printed in qUarto,
without name or date, by Barker and
Bell, London 1916. 1t was again pub
Hshed with the name Of the author, King
James, on tide page, in 1912. In the
froutspicc1 OF the first publication was
engraved "the tobacco smokers coat ct
arms. consisting Of a blackam0or's head,
cross pipes, cross leg bones, death heads,
&c, curiously and scientifically disposed
rs q warning to tobacconists." The hor-
ror manifested by King James about the
use of tobacco, aud the Indifference wltd
which he regarded more criminal practI-
ces. afford a striking illustration OF strain
ing gnat and swallowing camel, and
also Of another propensity, prevalent
among the fanatics Of our country, to
Compound for sins they are inclined to,
BY damning them they have no mind to-
In the Introductory remarks to the
! "Counterblast" we find very interesting
/ sketch Of the primatiye use OF tobacco In
/ England, and the forums IN which the
/ USAGE appeared when the king dlscharg-
! ed his .tCounterblast' against It, a con-
dcnscd view Of which may amuse those
who love aud those who hate he weed,
! those who use and those who abuse
! it.
/ Smoking was the first mode Of using
/ tobacco in England. and Sir Walter Raj
/ cirh. as Is well known, was the irat man
. who introduced the fashion. Raleigh
had has arms embazoued at his dwelling
at Islin-tJl afterwards known as Pied
/ BuU1 wirh tobacco plant upon the top.
II was the first house III England IN
which tobacco was smoked. The cele-
brated tobacco box Of Sir Walter used
m entertaining his guests was OF cyl
jpdricsl form, about seven inches ii dl-
ametcr and twelve inches high the out
side was Of silded leather, and within
WAS a receiver Of glass or metal, which
would hold about a pound OF tobacco a
kind Of collar connected the receiver with
the case, and on every side the box was
uierccd with holes for the pipes.
The honor OF being the first female
smoker in England is due to Queen Ehz-
absth. who copied the habit from Raleigh
and was in her turn initiated by the ladies
of her court. There was another claim
ant for this honor in the person OF one
Molly Cutpurse, low woman famous foi
her follies and crimes, but upon exam
inatiou it was found that the distinction
belonged to the Virgin Queen. Mon nev
er laid asid her ripe till her death IL
1862. She was an original genus, as was
shown by direction in her Will, that hel
nephew, to whom she left the bulk of he
nr6perty, "should not lay it out foolishly
Int oct drunk with it while it lasted"
Raleigh loved his pipe till the day, o
his death He smoked on the day OF HI
execution, which, says cotemporary wrl
ter. some formal pers )ns were scandallze'
at; but think" he adds, E''twas well ans
properly done to settle his spirits. OI
! being asked if it pleased him, ''aye, san
Raleigh, otis indeed good if man mlGh
tarry by it."
Smoking soon spread through all rank
and became universal. The spectators
n the theatres, in Shakspeare's time, wer
permitted to sit on the stage during tn
/. performance and puff away vigorously (
their pipes and tobacco. Smoking wa
also permitted in all other parts OF th
house. The practice reached its cllma
about 1910 4 common mode Of smokin