Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-03-31
The Force Of Imagination.

AN incident which will be regarded as
rather odd and unique, may serve as ma
terial for some curious speculations, as to
the force of imagination, and also the SYM
pathy between our visual and olfactory
organs. Colonel Flint, of the Guards, q
bully and duelist, described in the drdn'd-
tbs persona as fireater," was to stand
with his back to the red glowing chimney
piece in "Will's Coffee House." The
period is that of George l., when 1t was
fashionable for great bloods of the day to
smoke long pipes, designated as yard
of CLAW" With such pipe Colonel Flint
had duly provided himself for rehearsal;
and 10 make his stage business more per-
feet, soft-rolling clouds of smoke began to
issue from the bowl, and float over the
once famous coffee-room. In no time came
the manager, speaking quickly, MY dear
F, on no account attempt to smoke!
The Queen detests TOBACCO, and woulo
leave the box Immediately"
"But there is no tobacco in the pipe,
replied the colonel.
"Oh-come-nonsen
"Look here T-and the Colonel took
out of his waistcoat pocket handful OF
dried herbs IT got them in Covent
Garden Market this morning, on the way
to rehearsal"
"Well, we smelt tobacco the moment
we came within sight of the STAGE"
said Mr.. Dickens; 1.-THE pipe must be
foul"
"It is quite new pipe!"
Mark Lemon now came up, and protest.
ing that he also had smelt tobacco, and
that the pipe must have been an old one
reburnt, to look clean, the offending clay
was flung aside.
Before the next rehearsal, however, an
other pipe, warranted new and pure, was
obtained, independent of which it was
placed in the fire, and kept there at white
heat long enough to purify it ten times
over, even had it been one of the unclean.
Again the cloud began to unfold its vol.
umes over "Will's Coffee Room" and
this time Sir Joseph Paxton came running
from the seats in front to the stage, declar-
ing that the Queen so detested the smell
of tobacco that smoking must really not
be attempted. Once again the Colonel
protested the innocence of his pipe, in
proof of which he produced handful of
dried thyme and rose leaves from his
waistcoat pocket In vain. Sir Joseph
insisted that he smelt tobaccol They all
smelt it!" So this second yard of clay was
sent to shivers.
But the Colonel had CHANGED to see
"Model of the Battle of Waterloo" exhib'
tied some wears before in Leicester square,
in which the various miniature platoons Of
infantry, as we'll as the brigades of artil-
lery, were supposed to be firing volleys,
the clouds and wreaths of smoke being
fragile fixtures. These capital limitations
of clouds and wreaths of smoke were dis
1 covered, on very close examination, 70 be
composed of extremely fine and thlnly
{ drawn out webs OF cotton, supported on
: rings aud long twirls of almost invisible
wire, and attached at one end to the
mouths and muZzles of the miniature
: cannon and musketry. This model
I for triumph in the art of smok-
ing a pipe in the presence of a
. Queen who abhorred tobacco, was now
: adopted by Col. Flint, but held in reserve
! from the morning rehearsal for the full
d dress rehearsal of the same night, when
g there would be a preliminary audience. :.
He ventured to ffatter himself that all
these delicate considerations and assidui'
> ties would be much applauded and com
plimented, both by the accomplished au
l. thor and the management Far from 1t
8 No sooner was the cloud of apparent smoke
/ perceived to issue from the pipe, than the
q manager, stage manager and Sir JOSEPH
Paxton hurried together to the too assidu
= GUS guardsman begging him on no accoun
l. to persist in smokingi-the smoke-ol
this ION examining the smoke) appearance
@ of smoking 1t would be most injudicious
: Her Majesty would think she smelt 10
- bacco, and this would be as bad as If He
D. Majesty really smelt it. AT the same tim
C, they added, collectively, that they them
4. selves had smelt tobacco, no matter from
II. what source or what causei OF course
a there was an end to the matter, as we wer
- all anxious to be harmonious; and the dis
y comfitted fire-eater" of the company di
the best he could TO bully the company 1
y, "Will's Coffee Room with his empty
., bowled and immaculate yard of clay.