Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-09-21
FOR THE GAZETTE.
Scraps from History.

FOR THE UAZETTE.
Scraps from History.
TOBACCO SMoKING.-In the early use of to-
bacco much was said and written about smoking,
but no mention was made of chewing. AS yet,
We have seen no record or essay on tobacco to
show when the vile habit of chewing COM
menced. The practice of using snuff, no doubt
had become common long before chewing was
thought OF.
Says an English writer to magazine forty
years ago, There is certainly no human habit
with which so many curious considerations are
connected as with that of tobacco smoking.
The habit is more perfectly artificial than any
other which man INDUCES; and there are few
which are more repulsive to the natural taste.
1t is generally disagreeabe to those who do not
practise it; those who do. have, in the first in
stance, acquired it with effort and difficulty; and
many have tried without being able to acquire
il at all. Now the wonder is. how it happens
that habit Of this description, which seems
t. contain in itself fewer elements of propaga
ton than almost any other, should exceed all
others in the extent of its diffusion In extent
it embraces the circumference of the globe;
comprehcuds every class OF people, from the
most savage to the most refined, and includes
every climate from Sabina to the equator, aud
from the equator to the extreme South.
1t has been contended that the Turks Per-
SLAMS aud Chinese possessed and used tobacco
long before it was imported from America into
Europe, but the assertion Is not sustained.
Tobacco smoking is never mentioned in Orlen-
tai works of an earlier date, which minutely
describe the usages of the Orientals, The
Arabian Nights Entertainments, for instance;
neither is it noticed by any old travellers.
There seems to be difference of opinion as
to the precise time tobacco was first introduced
into England Stow, writer of the sixteenth
century, claimed that tobacco first appeared in
England about 1866, and was taken there by
Sir John Hawkins, but the most authentic
record places the time at 1878, and that Sir
Walter Raleigh was the man who brought
it, and the first to use it. Mai colin, anoth-
er historian, says that Sir Walter Raleigh
used to sit at bis door smoking with Sir
Hugh Middleton in the reign OF Queen
Elizabeth. ''The custom was probably pro
noted adds Malcolm, Through the public
manner 10 which it was exhibited, and the ar
sive of the singularity of the circumstances aud
the eminence of the parties. Indeed the two
last motives are alone adequate to establish a
custom ten times more loathsome than King
James describes tobacco smoking to be. >
The use Of tobacco gained ground but slowly
during Queen Eiizabeth's reign; 1t does not
seem to have met with any serious oppo-
sition during the Queens time, but when
James asceuded the throne, tobacco was called
divine 10 more. This monarch issued a
famous Counter blast on Tobacco, but it is
doubtful whether it had even temporary et-
tecr in checking the practice, except IN the
sphere of the Court among those depending on
his favor.
The following extract will illustrate the esti-
maticn in which tobacco smoking was held by
this King:
And for the yantics committed in this
filthy custom, is it not great vanity and use,
lessness that at the table, place of respect, OF
cleanneSs and mOdesty, men should not De
ashamed to sit tossing OF tobacco plpes and
putting of the smoke one to another, making
the filthy smoke and stink thereof to exhale
across the dishes, and infect the air. when very
often men that abhor it are at their repast.
The following extracts are richly characteris-
tic both of the King and the custom:
is it not the greatest sin OF all, that you,
the people of all sorts in this kingdom, who are
created aud ordained by God to bestow both
your person and goods for the maintenance both
of the honor and safety ofyour King and Com
monwealth, should disable yourselves 10 ootn.
In your person that you are not able to ride or
walk the journey OF a j Jew's Sabbath, but you
must have a reekie coal brought you from the
next poor house to kindle your tobacco with.
. = Now how you are by this custom dis,
abled in your goods, let the gentry OF TINS iano
hear witness, some of them bestoWlng three
and four hundred pounds year upon this pre-
cious stink, which am sure might be bestowed
mon MANY far better uses But here
in is not only great vanity, but great con-
tempt of God 5 good gifts, that the sweetness
ofman breath, being COED gift OF God, ,shoulu ..
be wilfuly corrupted by this sinking smoke.
The King, in concluding his tulmlnatlons
against tobacco smoking, characterlses the habit
as -,
Acustom loathsome TO the eye, hateful to the
nose harmful to the brain, dangerous to the
lungs, aud in the black sinking tume Thereon
nearest resembling the horrible stygian, smoke
of the pit that is bottomless That II ne were
to invite the devil to dinner he should nave
the following three dishes list pig; 2na
a poll of ling and mustard; and ord pipe OF
tobacco for digesture. n
What kind of 'counterblast think ye Mr.
Editor King James would have issued nau ne nc
witnessed the habit. ot, the, present day OF
tossing of tobacco pipes and puthng segars'
and the rolling as a sweet morsel under their
tongues, huge ouids of tobacco, by infants,
Youths, Young men, middle aged, and OLD
crouies: and lovely" women with stick anu
rag dipped in snuff 'swabbing' out .nsa mouth N
that should contain nothing but sweetness ol
breath" -,
ITO what base uses we may return out tue
bascst of all is smoking, chewing, snulnng' UP
ping, aud swabbing
\ REMARKABLE DoG.-We have dog IN
our town that has been regular attendant upon
ali the services at one of our churches Tor the e