The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-22

traveIsing portion of europe, tobacco made
it's entry into France by the narrow passage Of
The moment could not be better chosen nor
more opportune The Queen, VINO, as well as
her son Francis TX, suffered from obstinate
headaches, received the remedy with the hearty
welcome always given to new and far-letched
specifics. OF Its success nothing is recorded.
All we know is that, from that date, headaches
have often been the pretext tor snuff-taking.
The custom soon sptead with incredible
rapldity, throughout all classes of society.
There was q mania, rage for snuff. Rich and
poor men and women, healthy and sick, every
one, furnished with their little roll OF tobacco,
the crater wheTewith to reduce II TO powder,
strove who should Offer IL and take il the most
eagerly. Far from falling into neglect as time
wore on, as often happens with the best of
increase; to such an extent that, during the
reigns OF Louis III and Louis XIV, it was
almost the etiquette to present one's self at
court, Crater in hand the shirt frill bespattered
with SNUFF, the nose more or less stuffed with
the precious powder, the cheeks slightly tngei
with its hue, and the clothing thoroughly
scented with its smell. Some few of our aged
contemporaries may have seen the last relics of
that memorable epoch. RI
But the tobacco graters (although articles of
finery which Iivalled the most expensive fans)
could not long survive the improvements in the
art OF reducing tobacco by machinery. They
we're succeeded by snuif-boXes, displaying in
turn the marks OF extrayagant luxury: Both
graters and snuff-boxes are alike responsible for
the immense consumption OF tobacco in France.
No nation ever snutfed to such an excess; and
that in spite of criticism and rallery, in spite of
tie advice of physicians, IN spite OF the autho-
The Sultan and the Muscovite sovereign
threatened death, the king OF Persia amputaton
of the nose, Urban VII communication,
Christian ~ of Denmark the milder punishments
of fines aud whippngs, to persons guilty of to-
bacco taking. But we know what little influence
both laws and reason either singly or in combi-
tion, have in checking the spread Of a foolish
ples-we need not go back to Rome, nor even to
Venice-having contemporary instances before
our eyes. "The mode" will ever manifest its
despotism by forcing society to adopt some ne W.
tangled folly of the day.
Nothing, indeed, proves better than the his
tory OF tobacco the strange turns taken by HUI
man afars-by the ways and doings of men and
women. An acrid, fetid, and repnlsive plant,
unused by and unknown to all except the
sayages OF America, is brought over to Europe.
One would say, before the experiment was tried,
that 1t was sure to be despised and rejected, or
at least let alone, and consigned to a corner IN a
druggists shop with other nauseOus and medi-
cinal articles. But instead of thai, presto it
suddealy finds favor as ii by enchantment. The
habits OF nations are changed in consequences;
new indulgence is created; new. want, Of
primary necessity, makes itself felt by the world
at large. TObaccOs triumphant march in ad-
vance shows the power OF imitation not only on
the human mind, but over the destiDles of
people. l la
Nevertheless,the French did not yet smoke, al
though smoking was already common in Span,
Holland, Switzerland, and Prussia. And al
though France tolerated foreign smokers in the
spirit of her habtual courtesy, she still kept
exclusively to her pinch OF snuff, seemingly In
protest against what appeared incompatible
with national manners. Ar
AS TO The time consumed in smoking by way
OF parenthesis, say nothing, because in many
cases the amusement is adopted avowedly as a
means of killing time. Snutfiing, it has been
calculated, is even greater waste of time than
| smoking.
People can smoke and go on with what they
are about; while snuffing, they do that and
nothing else. Now every habitual snuffer is
| estimated to take pinch six times at least per
| hour. Every pinch requires the employment
OF the handkerchief the taking out OF ana re.
turning 1t to the pocket, the opening and shat
| ting of the box, and other indispensable
maneuvres, taking up in all not less than a
minute and hall, or nine minutes per hour
| or two hours twenty -four minntes per day (of
sixteen hours only, not twenty -four), or thirty
| six days and a halt (of twenty-four hours) per
annum, or exactly tour whole years during IA
| hie of forty years-ust the 1.-THE, in short, OF
| persons existence.
Somebody asked Abernethy whether the
1 moderate use OF snuff would injure his BRAIN.
"No sir,n replied the irritable doctor; ''fol
nobody with an ounce OF brains in his head
| would ever think of taking snuff"
Louis XIV did not smoke, but at least he tole-
rated smokers. Jean Bart was one of the first
personages who introduced the pipe to court
whiher he had been sent for by the king. As
it was not yet daylight when he presented him.
self, he had to wait in the antechamber before
| admission TO the presence. Knowing nobod y
| at Versailles, he found the time long; so he
took out his pipe, struck light with flint and
| steel, and set to smoking in right good earnest.
Such conduct was naturally considered ex'
| tremely improper-the height of impudence.
Nobody had ever before smoked in the kings
| apartment. The courtiers we're shocked; toe
| guards wanted TO turn him cut.
| ~ He coolly replied, putting away, II have con-
| tracted this habit in the king my masters SER
| vice, and 1t has become necessity. believe
him to be too just monarch TO be angry at my
| satisfying it.n
As he had never appeared at court, there was
| only the Comte de Forbn who knew hun; and
he, fearing the consequences of the freak, dared
| not acknowledge him as his friend. So some
body went and told the king that strange fell
4 low had presumed 10 smoke, and refused to quit
"Let him do as he likes,p said the king, with
a laugh; II bet anything that 1t is Jean Bart
| Adding soon afterwards, Let HIM come IN"
| On entering, his Majesty received him COR
daily rkDg:-''You, Jean Bart are the
| only person allowed to smo ke here"
The name of Jean Bart and the kings gra-
cious reception made strange alteration IN the
| courtieTs manners. When he lett the king they
thronged about him, asking how he managed
to get out of Dunkerque with his little squad
ron in spite OF the fleet blockading the port.
| RANGING them close together IN line before
| him, he pushed his way through, elbowlng
right and left, and pommelllng them with h!s
fists Then, turning round he said:-"That is
the way ] managed it,
Sailors elsewhere had already indulged them
selves both with the pipe and the quld, ana SO
dsting guished themselves from the rest ot the
service. But examples like these spread quickly,
| If not Tor the qualification of curiosity-as nap
pened even to the daughters of the Grand
Munarque. One day, when they were lndulg-
| ing in the novelty, without asking their gov
erness permission, they were surprised oy tne